Your answer regarding the origins (etymology) of the word “corvette” in the December 2000 issue missed the “boat” by over 100 years! Much of Noland’s information is accurate as to the corvette’s role in modern navies, but the word “corvette” is decidedly not British, but French from the 18th century during the age of sail. Additionally, the use of the French Bourbon Monarchy’s symbol, which is a white lily known as a fluer de lis, on the Corvette flag is so very appropriate.

Back in the 18th century a ship was defined as such due to its type of rigging. A corvette was the smallest and most nimble of the ship rigged man o’war, smaller than a frigate, whose duties (much like modern naval corvettes), included merchantman escort and fleet reconnaissance. The British called this class ship a “sloop of war” until the end of the age of sail, which is probably why Noland’s research of the British term appears only at the end of the 19th century."

Christian Stepien
Pen Argyl, PA

Noland’s response:

“ You’re right about the origin of the ship name “corvette”(Boy, do I hate to be wrong!). My research shows that the term goes back to usage by the French Navy in about 1687. A corvette was descibed as a flush decked vessel, generally a fast sailor used for observation or carrying despatches.

In the mid-19th century there was a change from sail to steam, and corvettes were used extensively. By 1886, corvettes made up about one third of the British Navy. So much for the history of the name.

In 1938, the Smiths Dock Company in England designed a commercial whaler called the Southern Pride. Based on this size and hull design, the British Navy ordered new corvettes under the class name “Flower.” The timing was important, because World War II began in September 1939 when Germany started attacking it’s neighbors. At the time, the British Navy had 60 Flower class corvettes on order.

The Flower class corvettes were armed with detection devices, anti submarine and antiaircraft guns, and depth charges. They will always be associated with the Battle of the North Atlantic where they fought against German submarines trying to stop allied convoys. Corvettes were used by the British and Canadian Navies as well as the U.S. Navy. However, in the U.S. Navy they were called “Escort Patrol Craft.”

Nowadays, corvettes are still being built and and used by navies throughout the world. The modern corvette is a small ship equipped with rockets and the devices used in antisubmarine warfare.