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HMS Milfoil (K288)
Encyclopedia
HMS Milfoil (K288) was a modified Flower-class corvette
that served in the Royal Navy
and the United States Navy
(as USS Intensity (PG-93)) before being transferred to Panama
where she served as a whaling ship
.
During most of World War II
, she operated from New York
on escort duty to the Caribbean
. She completed 15 escort runs in this role. As the USS Intensity, she was designated an Action-class patrol gunboat
and manned by the United States Coast Guard
. She was put on patrol in New York for a month in 1944 but was later returned to escort duty in the Caribbean.
After the threat from German attack disappeared in May 1945, USS Intensity sailed to Charleston, South Carolina
, arriving on 29 June 1945. She was decommissioned later that year in Charleston and put into the trust of the United States Maritime Commission
.
In 1950, she was sold to a Panamanian
company, Balleneros Ltd., where she was used as a whaler
called Olympic Promoter. She was then sold to a Japanese Company and re-named Otori Maru № 5.
Her fate is unknown, but a ship called Otori Maru № 5 is currently listed under the Mongolian flag of convenience
.
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
that served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
(as USS Intensity (PG-93)) before being transferred to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
where she served as a whaling ship
Whaler
A whaler is a specialized ship, designed for whaling, the catching and/or processing of whales. The former included the whale catcher, a steam or diesel-driven vessel with a harpoon gun mounted at its bows. The latter included such vessels as the sail or steam-driven whaleship of the 16th to early...
.
During most of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she operated from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on escort duty to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. She completed 15 escort runs in this role. As the USS Intensity, she was designated an Action-class patrol gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
and manned by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. She was put on patrol in New York for a month in 1944 but was later returned to escort duty in the Caribbean.
After the threat from German attack disappeared in May 1945, USS Intensity sailed to Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, arriving on 29 June 1945. She was decommissioned later that year in Charleston and put into the trust of the United States Maritime Commission
United States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
.
In 1950, she was sold to a Panamanian
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
company, Balleneros Ltd., where she was used as a whaler
Whaler
A whaler is a specialized ship, designed for whaling, the catching and/or processing of whales. The former included the whale catcher, a steam or diesel-driven vessel with a harpoon gun mounted at its bows. The latter included such vessels as the sail or steam-driven whaleship of the 16th to early...
called Olympic Promoter. She was then sold to a Japanese Company and re-named Otori Maru № 5.
Her fate is unknown, but a ship called Otori Maru № 5 is currently listed under the Mongolian flag of convenience
Flag of convenience
The term flag of convenience describes the business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship's owners, and flying that state's civil ensign on the ship. Ships are registered under flags of convenience to reduce operating costs or avoid the...
.