HMS ''Florizel'' (J404), US pennant No. BAM-26, was an ordered by the US Navy to be supplied to the Royal Navy (RN) under Lend-lease. ''Florizel'' was built by Associated Ship Builders at Harbour Island, Seattle, Washington (State), Washington, United States and commissioned by the Royal Navy as Pennant No. J404. She was ordered 24 March 1942, Keel laying, laid down 27 January 1943, Ceremonial ship launching, launched 20 May 1943 and Ship commissioning, commissioned 14 April 1944.

1944 Collision

On 10 December 1944 USS Abbot (DD-184), HMS ''Charlestown'' collided with ''Florizel'' off Harwich, England. Due to the ''Charlestown''s advanced age — the keel was laid more than 26½ years earlier — and the pressing need for experienced crews on newer warships, the Royal Navy declined repairs. ''Florizel'' survived the encounter and returned to duty.

Post war history

* 14 Dec 1946 Sold to Greece * 1947 Renamed Merchant Ship ''Aida'' * 1953 Converted to a cargo ship * 1959 Renamed ''Lasithi'' * 1967 Broken up in Messina

Other ships named ''Florizel''

* a passenger ship commissioned in 1909 and sank off of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Newfoundland. * SS ''Empire Florizel'' (169503) was a short lived UK transport ship launched 21 April 1943 and was bombed and sunk on 21 Jul 1943 off Augusta, Sicily.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Florizel (J404) Auk-class minesweepers World War II minesweepers of the United Kingdom Ships built in Seattle 1943 ships