Attacker-class escort carrier

Attacker-class escort carrier
Class Overview
Class	Attacker class
Type	Escort Carrier.
Technical Information
Length	150m
Beam	21.34m
Draught	23.25m
Displacement	11600t
Machinery	2x boilers>2x geared steam turbines driving one shaft.
Speed	17 knots
Armament	2x 4"/.50 caliber AA guns, 4x twin mounted Bofors AA gun, 21x Oerlikon AA gun
Aircraft capacity	20
Crew	646
Usage
Role(s)	Escort Carrier
Year Introduced	1941
Retired	End of WWII
Affiliation	United States/Great Britain
[Source]

The Attacker class escort carriers in Royal Navy uses began life as the Bogue-class escort carrier of the United States Navy. They were provided to the RN under lend-lease provision and were returned in most cases after the war.

Description

The Attacker class of escort carriers were fairly typical of the escort type as a whole. Developed from the Avenger-class escort carrier, improvements included a longer flight deck and larger aircraft hanger and a second aircraft lift. Flight deck was 137m by 37m.

Units

All Attacker class carriers survived the war and were returned to the US for disposal.

HMS Attacker

Laid down by Western Pipe & Steel Co. San Francisco in April 1941 as the USS Barnes, launched 27th Sep 1942 and commissioned on 30th Sep 1942. Barnes was transferred on the same day to the RN and renamed HMS Attacker. Served in the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres before returning to the US on 5th Jan 1946.

HMS Battler

Laid down by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp as the USS Altamaha in April 1941 and completed in April 1942 it was commissioned into the RN on 31st October 1942 as HMS Battler. She served as escort for Gibraltar convoys and at the invasion of Italy and then in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Returned to the US on 12th Feb 1946.

HMS Chaser

Laid down at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp on 28th June 1941 as the USS Breton and launched on the 19th June 1942. Commissioned into the RN as HMS Chaser on the 9th April 1943. Served mostly as a convoy escort and was moved to the Pacific theatre late in the war. Returned to the US on the 12th May 1946.

HMS Fencer

Laid down as the USS Croatan at the Western Pipe & Steel Co on the 5th Sept 1941, launched 4 April 1942 and commissioned into the RN on the 27th Fed 1943. Served mainly on North Atlantic convoys, including an attack on the Tirpitz before transferring to the Pacific. Returned to the US on the 11th Dec 1946.

HMS Hunter

Laid down on the 15th May 1941 as the USS Block Island at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp, launched 22nd May 1942 and commissioned into RN service on the 11th Jan 1943. HMS Hunter served as a convoy escort/support carrier in North Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres before transferring to the Pacific. Returned to the US on the 29th December 1945.

HMS Pursuer

Laid down on the 31st July 1941 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp as the USS St George and commissioned into RN service on the 14th June 1943. HMS Pursuer was outfitted as an Anti-Submarine Warfare carrier and served mainly in the UK and French coastal water before transferring to the Pacific theatre. Returned to the US on the 12th Feb 1946.

HMS Ravager

Laid down as a merchantman like most Bogue-class escort carrier,Ravager was almost unique in that she was commissioned directly into the RN having never been given a USN designation Laid down at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp in 11th April 1942 and commissioned as HMS Ravager in 25th April 1943. Used mainly as a training carrier. Returned to the US on the 26th February 1946.

HMS Searcher

Laid down 20th Feb 1942 at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp as a merchantman and commissioned into RN use on the 7th April 1943. Another ASW fitted carrier that served in the North Sea area and participated in attacks on the Tirpitz. Returned to the US on the 29th November 1945.

HMS Stalker

Laid down at Western Pipe & Steel Co. on the 6th October 1941 as the USS Hamlin and commissioned into the RN on the 21st December 1942. Served as convoy escort in both the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres. Returned to the US on the 29th December 1945.

HMS Stalker

Laid down by Western Pipe & Steel Co.on the 15th December 1941 as the USS Prince William and commissioned into the RN on the 29th April 1943. Served in the Atlantic as an ASW carrier and the Pacific as a transport and fighter carrier. Returned to the US on the 12th February 1946.

HMS Tracker

Laid down at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp on the 3rd November 1941 and commssioned into the RN 31st January 1943. No USN designation was ever given. Served as ASW cover for Atlantic and Russian convoys. Loaned back to the USN as a transport carrier for Pacific duties.Returned to US on the 29th November 1945.