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Our friends at Mirage Hobby in Poland have sent along word of a new kit in their ever growing line of naval subjects, the 1/350 HMS Anchusa Flower Class Corvett.

HMS „Anchusa” Korweta klasy Flower (K186)
scale: 1/350 cat. no.: 350801

One of such vessels, with the pennant number “K 186”, was a corvette named HMS “Anchusa”. Corvettes built in this series had an elongated foredeck, but the mast was still situated in front of the command post. The history of the ship is interesting not only due to her long combat operation during which she underwent two modernizations and changes of appearance, but also her operation after the end of World War II...
Historical outline.

As early as during World War I the shortage of ships for escorting convoys from America to Europe was felt very strongly. Ships with not very powerful surface armament, but well-equipped against German submarines and with great seaworthiness. As usual, a coincidence helped. A coincidence in a form of whaling vessels, which very often tackled difficult weather conditions on the Ocean and the arctic waters. Easy to construct, it was enough to arm them and man with trained crew. This is how the new group of ships originated – Flower-class escort corvettes (from the names of flowers which were given to newly launched vessels). The same was done at the beginning of World War II. When the British Admiralty found the shortage of such vessels, the idea from almost thirty years before was dusted off. On the basis of the documentation from the previous period, a vessel for performing escort tasks in the new armed conflict was designed. The design enabled quick building of ships in an almost serial system. The vessels were once again given the names of flowers. Orders for such types of ships were also placed by the French Navy. France ordered a total of 16 Flower corvettes. Out of the 6 vessels constructed in France only four were launched, which were later taken over and finished by the Germans. However, in the order specification dated 8 April 1940 for Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast 10 vessels were recorded for France. Unfortunately, only seven of those ships were finished and none of them started service under the French flag, due to France being occupied by the German army. One of such vessels, with the pennant number “K 186”, was a corvette named (already as an English vessel) HMS “Anchusa” (a flower from the borage family). Corvettes built in this series had an elongated foredeck, but the mast was still situated in front of the command post. The history of the ship is interesting not only due to her long combat operation during which she underwent two modernizations and changes of appearance, but also her operation after the end of World War II. The ship contributed to sinking a German submarine with an undetermined number together with other ships escorting a convoy in the East Atlantic. In 1942 HMS Anchusa underwent the first modernization including the change of armament. The second modernization connected with changing the appearance and equipment was conducted at the beginning of 1944. At the end of World War II she was sent to reserve. In 1949 the ship was sold and converted into a merchant vessel named “Silverlord”. Another visit at the shipyard and change of the name into “Sir Edgar ” took place in 1954. On 18 January 1960 the vessel was sunk, however, she was salvaged and then scrapped in Mauritius. The first commander of the ship was reserve lieutenant Philipp Evertt-Price. The last wartime commander was also retired lieutenant Raymond Archilles Baker.

Tactical and technical data:
status from 1 March to 15 April 1941.
Ship built with the manufacturer’s number J 3346 at Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast,
Northern Ireland. The name “ Archusa ” was given at the moment of putting the ship into service.
Length: 62.4 m, width 10.1 m, draught 4.8 m,
displacement 1170 tons – standard.
Propulsion: 2 boilers and steam engine with 4 cylinders generating 2750 hp. 1 bolt.
Speed 16 -17 knots.
Range 4000 nautical miles at the speed of 12 knots.
Armament. At launching. 1 102 mm calibre cannon (type Mark IX BL – 4 -inch/45-calibre). 1 ackack gun 40 mm calibre (type Mark VIII 2-pound)
2 machine guns (2 x 2) Lewis 7.69 mm calibre (0.303-inch), water-cooled. 70 depth charges.

We hope that presented new product of our company Mirage Hobby will recognize in your eyes and you will take into account this information and publish it.