HMS Oxlip (K123)

HMS Oxlip was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy during World War II.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Oxlip
Namesake	Oxlip
Builder	A & J Inglis, Glasgow
Yard number	J1164
Laid down	9 December 1940
Launched	28 August 1941
Completed	28 December 1941
Decommissioned	1946
Identification	Pennant number: K123
Fate	Transferred to the Irish Naval Service
General characteristics
Class and type	Flower-class corvette
Displacement	925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length	205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam	33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught	11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Propulsion	single shaft 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed	16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range	3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement	85
Sensors and processing systems	1 × SW1C or 2C radar 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV ASDIC
Armament	1 × 4-inch BL Mk.IX single gun 2 × .50 cal machine gun (twin) 2 × Lewis .303 cal machine gun (twin) 2 × Mk.II depth charge throwers 2 × Depth charge rails with 40 depth charges originally fitted with minesweeping gear, later removed

Construction

Oxlip was ordered in July 1939 as part of the Royal Navy's 1939 War Emergency building programme. She was laid down by A & J Inglis of Glasgow on 9 December 1940, launched on 28 August 1941 and completed on 28 December the same year. After working up and trials she joined Western Approaches Command for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties.

Service history

From February 1942 onwards Oxlip served with close escort groups on Arctic convoys taking war materiel from the Western Allies to the Soviet Union. In three years Oxlip sailed with 18 Arctic convoys (outbound and homebound), contributing to the safe and timely arrival of more than 300 merchant ships. With the end of hostilities Oxlip was decommissioned and in 1946 she was sold.

Post-war service

In 1946 Oxlip was sold to the Irish Naval Service where she was commissioned as LÉ Maev. She was stricken in March 1972.

Convoys escorted

Arctic convoys 1942-45

Outbound	Homebound
PQ 11	QP 8
PQ 14	QP 11
JW 51A	RA 52
JW 55B	RA 55B
JW 56B	RA 56
JW 59	RA 59A
JW 61	RA 61
JW 65	RA 65
JW 66	RA 66

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08401-9.
• Kemp P : Convoy! Drama in Arctic Waters (1993) ISBN 1 85409 130 1
• Ruegg, Bob; Hague, Arnold (1992). Convoys to Russia 1941–1945. Kendal, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-66-5.

External links

• HMS Oxlip at uboat.net