During the first year and more after the United States entered the war against the Axis powers, the United States Navy suffered from an acute shortage of warships, particularly of antisubmarine warfare and escort types.

To fill that need, an extensive ship construction and acquisition program was inaugurated.

Part of that program consisted of placing orders with British and Canadian firms already tooled up to produce Flower-class corvette.

The British renamed her HMS Willowherb, and she served in the Royal Navy for the duration of the war.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.