HMS Freesia (K43)

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| [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|40px|Royal Navy Ensign]]

| [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]]

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! Armament

! Armament

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* 1 × 4 in (102 mm) gun

* 1 × [[BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun|4-inch BL Mk.IX]]

* 1 [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|QF Mk.VIII 2-pounder]]

* Depth charge throwers

* 1 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] cannon

* Light AA weapons

* 4 [[Lewis gun|Lewis .303 cal]] machine guns

* 4 Mk.II depth charge throwers

* 2 depth charge rails ~40 depth charges

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'''HMS Freesia''' (K43) was a [[Flower-class corvette]] of the [[Royal Navy]] built during the [[Second World War]]. She was constructed by [[Harland and Wolff]] in Belfast, laid down on 18 June 1940, launched on 3 October 1940, and commissioned on 19 November 1940.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

'''HMS Freesia''' (K43) was a [[Flower-class corvette]] of the [[Royal Navy]] built during the [[Second World War]]. She was constructed by [[Harland and Wolff]] in Belfast, laid down on 18 June 1940, launched on 3 October 1940, and commissioned on 19 November 1940.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref> Like her sister ships, was named after a flower, in this case, the [[freesia]], a fragrant, brightly coloured bloom native to southern Africa.

== Design and construction ==

== Design and construction ==

Like other Flower-class corvettes, ''Freesia'' was designed for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine warfare. She displaced approximately 925 tons, was 205 feet long with a beam of 33 feet, and drew 11.5 feet of water. She was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine driving a single shaft. Her armament included one 4-inch (102 mm) main gun, depth charge throwers, and light anti-aircraft weapons.<ref>{{cite web |title=HMS Freesia – K43 – Flower-class Corvette |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-20Cor-Flower-Freesia.htm |website=Naval-History.net |publisher=Gordon Smith |access-date=4 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605000000/https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-20Cor-Flower-Freesia.htm |archive-date=5 June 2023}}</ref>

Like other Flower-class corvettes, ''Freesia'' was designed for convoy escort duties and [[anti-submarine warfare]]. She displaced approximately 925 tons, was 205 feet long with a beam of 33 feet, and drew 11.5 feet of water. She was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine driving a single shaft. Her armament included one 4-inch (102 mm) main gun, depth charge throwers, and light anti-aircraft weapons.<ref>{{cite web |title=HMS Freesia – K43 – Flower-class Corvette |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-20Cor-Flower-Freesia.htm |website=Naval-History.net |publisher=Gordon Smith |access-date=4 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605000000/https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-20Cor-Flower-Freesia.htm |archive-date=5 June 2023}}</ref>

== Service history ==

== Service history ==

In May 1942, HMS ''Freesia'' participated in [[Operation Ironclad]], the Allied amphibious assault on Vichy French-controlled Madagascar. The operation aimed to prevent Japanese forces from using the island as a base, which would have threatened shipping routes in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

In May 1942, HMS ''Freesia'' participated in [[Operation Ironclad]], the Allied amphibious assault on Vichy French-controlled Madagascar. The operation aimed to prevent Japanese forces from using the island as a base, which would have threatened shipping routes in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

Later that year, on 12 December 1942, ''Freesia'' was involved in the rescue of survivors from the British tanker ''Empire Gull'', which had been torpedoed by [[German submarine U-177|U-177]] off the coast of [[Portuguese Mozambique|Portuguese East Africa]] (modern-day Mozambique). A total of 44 survivors were recovered in the aftermath of the attack.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

Later that year, on 12 December 1942, ''Freesia'' along with the destroyer HMS Inconstant {{HMS|Inconstant|H49|6}} was involved in the rescue of survivors from the British tanker ''Empire Gull'', which had been torpedoed by [[German submarine U-177|U-177]] off the coast of [[Portuguese Mozambique|Portuguese East Africa]] (modern-day Mozambique). A total of 44 survivors were recovered in the aftermath of the attack.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

On 1 August 1943, the corvette again performed rescue duties, this time recovering survivors from the Dutch merchant vessel ''Mangkalihat'', which had been sunk by [[German submarine U-198|U-198]] in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>

On 1 August 1943, the corvette again performed rescue duties, this time recovering survivors from the Dutch merchant vessel ''Mangkalihat'', which had been sunk by [[German submarine U-198|U-198]] in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=HMS Freesia (K 43) |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4749.html |website=uboat.net |publisher=Guðmundur Helgason |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>