French corvette Alysse

Alysse (formerly HMS Alyssum) was one of the nine Flower-class corvettes lent by the Royal Navy to the Free French Naval Forces.

Alysse
Flower-class corvette in 1942 paint
History
France
NameAlysse
Ordered12 December 1939
Laid down24 June 1940
Launched3 March 1941
Commissioned17 June 1941
IdentificationPennant number: K100
FateTorpedoed and sunk on 9 February 1942
General characteristics
Class and typeFlower-class corvette
Displacement950 tonnes
Length62.7 m (205 ft 9 in)
Beam10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Draught2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range
  • 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
  • Fuel capacity: 230 tonnes
Complement70
Sensors and
processing systems
Type 271 surface radar
Armament

Construction

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Alysse was built by George Brown & Co.

War service

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Originally built as HMS Alyssum by the British Royal Navy, she was loaned to the Free French Navy upon completion on 17 June 1941.

Convoys escorted by Alysse[citation needed]
Year Month Name of convoy
1941 July convoy England-United States
1941 August SC-40
1941 September SC-44
1941 September ON-19
1941 October SC-50
1941 November
1941 December
1942 January SC-62
1942 January ON-60

Shortly after midnight on 9 February 1942 while escorting convoy ON-60, Alysse was torpedoed by the German submarine U-654.[2] The torpedo struck Alysse on the port side in the forward part of the ship causing her to settle by the bow. The surviving crew were rescued by HMCS Hepatica and HMCS Moose Jaw; 36 crew members were lost. Hepatica then attempted to tow Alysse but after 30 minutes the tow parted. A further attempt was made to tow her to port later that day but after 18 hours Alysse foundered and sank at 6°34N/44°10W.[3]

 
Alysse just prior to sinking, 9 February 1942

Citations

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  1. ^ Alysse (J-1159) (+1942) Wreck site
  2. ^ "FFL Alysse (K 100) (French Corvette)". uboat.net. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  3. ^ "HMS Alyssum (K 100)". uboat.net. Retrieved 22 March 2018.

References

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  • Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers and Frigates: The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.