Attacker class Escort Aircraft Carriers (1941)

Royal Navy – Escort Aircraft Carriers (1941-43)
HMS Attacker, Battler, Chaser, Fencer, Hunter, Pursuer, Ravager, Searcher, Stalker, Striker, Tracker

The 11 Attacker class CVE (escort carriers), alongside with the 23 Avengers, made the largest addition of escorts carriers in the Royal Navy, before the MACs and all locally converted vessels such as the Vindex class. They were former US-built Bogue class escort carriers, themselves former MARCOM civilian C3 cargo ships ordered in 1940, laid down in 1941 and completed in 1942-43, transferred the very same day they were commissioned in US service to the Royal Navy, renamed and put to British standards. They provided quite an immense bonanza of air cover for the hard-pressed Atlantic convoys and horrid Murmansk/Arctic ones, before being shifted to other tasks, notably Mediterranean Landings from Torch to Dragoon and the campaign of Italy, escorted all sorts of ships and convoys through the Indian Ocean, attacked Tirpitz, saw action in the far east and Pacific at the end of the war and all were awarded battle honors. They were returned to the US in 1946, some scrapped and others returned after conversion to a new civilian life, up to 1975 for some. #ww2 #atlanticbattle #uboats #escortaicraftcarrier #hmsattacker #worldwartwo #royalnavy

In short: 11 Lend-Lease Bogue class

Together with the US Bogue class, the Attackers were one of the three mass-produced C-3 type cargo hull escort aircraft carriers, together with the Archer, Ameer and Avenger classes. They made the bulk of the Royal Navy escort carrier force, as local shipyard were unable to built or convert more ships, being already at full capacity. The Attacker class was the later result of the acquisition by the USN of twenty-two C3 cargos shortly after the Attack on Pearl Harbor for a convertion into the Bogue class carriers. The need for convoy escorts in the North Atlantic had 11 of them transferred to the Royal Navy under lend-lease, initially part of the Bogue class, and reclassified as Attacker class.

HMS Ravager in 1943. All these ships were camouflaged in the standard British wavy pattern of the type with medium grey, white, and two blue tones.
These convoy escort carriers carried an interesting mix of anti-submarine aircrafts and fighters but they also acted as aircraft transport, for transferring new or replacement aircraft to forward bases. They saw action first in Operation Trorch, the allied invasion of North Africa until land airbases were secured acting as strike carriers with just fighter onboard, which were Martlets, the lend-lease version of the Wildcat. As convoy escorts they deployed either the Swordfish and later the Tarpon (lend leased Avenger) to secure Allied convoys and track U-Boats, kept inside the convoy or in independent operations like some Bogue class (hunter killer groups). They took part in the landings of Sicily and Italian campaign as well and raids in Norway on the German battleship Tirpitz. The Attacker class suffered no loss. Some were returned, but eight were sent in the Far East for the final Malaya-Burma and Pacific campaigns with the BPF. They ended their career with Operation magic Carpet, repatriating allied POWs. All eleven carriers were then returned to the USN, which resold eight, converted back into merchant ships, the other three being scrapped.

Lend-Lease C3 US-built Escort Carriers

Exporter, the first C3 ship to be completed in 1941, Shown here in 1943, after conversion by the US Navy to USS Hercules. In total 475 C3 were built in 13 variants. The Bogues and Attacker/Avengers were of the C3-S-A1 DWT 12,595 GRT type.

Basically no need for an extensive development description here, as they simply were US-built Bogue class under British lend-lease use. Apart some adaptation to British landing procedures, electronics, they carried basically also a lend-lease and British mixed air group (see later).
The Bogue class is far les known than the Casablancas as US escort carriers, for two reasons.

HMS Puncher of the much larger Avenger class

For once, despite 45 ships converted to that design, only 11 were retained in the US Navy. The rest went to the RN in leand-lease and the second reason was their use in the Atlantic theater whereas the Casablancas were much more present in the Pacific, seeing for some a lot of action like thos of the Taffy 3 at the battle of Samar (Leyte). 45 ships was just 5 vessels shy of the Casablanca class, still.

The Attacker and Ameer classs were respectively 11 and 23 ships, so 34 globally. This was by far the primary escort carrier force used by the RN in its operations, alongside many one-offs, the Audacity, Activity, Vindex class, Archer and Avenger class we already saw.

HMS Pursuer in the Mediterranean
The common denominator to all these, and still close to the Casablanca class, which were purpose-built as escort carriers, the Bogues emerged from civilian shipyards on the basis standard C3 cargo designation, which vast holds made them suitable for rapid development of internal arrangement below the hangar. They shared all catacteristics of a cargo below the weather deck, being slow and matching the cargo or assault ships they were covering in escort.

They also had a sober and economical machinery for an excellent autonomy and relative ease of repairs, albeit none had diesels or VTE but steam turbines according to US naval standards. The Bogue class themselves derived from USS Charger, close to USS Long Island converted in a hurry by 1940 to reinforce Atlantic escort well before the US were at war in 1941. The base was the same C3 standard cargo. USS Long island improved the design by having a fuller hangar and a proper command bridge whereas Long Island was completely flush deck.

They needed self defences alongside their own air park, and AA guns were placed where a sport could be found, namely two 5-in guns for possible defensive actions, possibly two twin 40 mm mounts and scores of easy to place 20 m Oerlikon guns. The Bogues, unlike Lend-Lease ships however, had triple expansion engines. All had the same basic deck design, rectalngular, stopping short of the bow and stern but wide enough for parking aircraft and land/launch others. Its size prevented simultaneous operation though, despite having one catapult and two elevators fore and aft of the flight deck, on average 141 meters by 21.2 meters.

Lend Lease Transfers

Eleven ships were from Western Pipe and Steel, Ingalls, and Seattle-Tacoma, nine of the first series Bogue/Attacker, one of the second series Bogue/Ruler. They were commissioned between 1942 and 1943. On the Bogue class deployed to protect convoys in the Atlantic, they carried in standard twelve F4F4/FM1/2 Wildcat, nine Grumann TBF/TBM Avengers.
The ships laid down were: USS Altamaha (HMS Battler), Barnes (Attacker), Block Island, Bogue, Breton, Card, Copahee, Core, Croatan, Hamlin, Nassau, USS St. George (Pursuer), USS Altamaha (ii), Prince William (Striker), Barnes (ii), Chatham (Slinger), Glacier (Atheling), Pybus (Emperor), Baffins (Ameer), Bolinas (Begum ), Bastian (Trumpeter), Carnegie (Empress ), Cordova (Khedive), Delgada (Speaker), Edisto (Nabob), Estero (Premier), Jamaica, Keweenaw, Prince (Rajah), Niantic (Ranee), Perdido (Trouncer), Sunset (Thane), St. Andrews (Queen), St. Joseph (Ruler), St. Simon (Arbiter), Vermillion (Smiter), Willapa (Puncher), Winjah (Reaper).

Construction

The Attacker class were built respectively at:
Western Pipe: Attacker, Fencer, Stalker, Striker
Ingalls: Battler, Chaser, Hunter, Pursuer
Seattle-Tacoma: Ravager, Searcher, Tracker
The named were a symbolic allusion of the “retribution” awaited from them over the Atlantic against the U-Boats after the dark months of 1941-42. Orignally they were launched from february 1941 (Searcher) to December 1941 (Striker), launched 1941-42 and commissioned from October 1942 (Attacker) to June 1943 (Pursuer). Thus, they were instrumental in turning the ride in the Atlantic, doing the heavy lifting of British carrier operations as well until practically the end of the war in the Mediterrean and last convoys of 1945. The Ameer class arrived a few months later. They came from different yards and diverged in sme points, notably their AA composition.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Note: These are HMS Puncher’s plan. They will be shown in full (all booklet’s pages, see the link in sources) on the next Avenger class.

The Attacker class differed little from the Bogue class, at least internally they were identical and quite different from British style accomodations. Waterline length was 465 ft (142 m), and overall length 495 ft 8 in (151.08 m). Beam was 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) on the waterline and 111 ft 6 in (33.99 m) on the flight deck level. Draught reflected their role as cargoes, at 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m) fully loaded, 21 ft (6.4 m) at light load for a standard load displacement of 7,800 long tons (7,900 t), up to 14,170 long tons (14,400 t) fully loaded, so twice as much, due notably to their larghe holds.
The crew totalled 646 officers and ratings, far more than an average C3 cargo. It’s probably integrates the air crew as well. Crew accommodations were significantly different from the normal for the Royal Navy at the time. Instead of food being prepared by separate messes, it was cooked in the galley and served cafeteria-style in a central dining area. Unlike British-built ships, they were equipped with air conditioning, a modern laundry and a barber shop. The traditional hammocks were replaced by three-tier bunk beds, with 18 to a cabin, which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use.

Powerplant

The Attacker class had two Foster and Wheeler boilers working at 285 psi (1,970 kPa) feeding a single General Electric steam turbine engine, connected to a single shaft. It was rated for 8,500 bhp (6,300 kW), enough for 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) which can be pushed boyons 18.5 kts as seen on trials. The single turbine was good for top speed and escape surfaced U-Boats, but not ideal for range. They had a generous oil bunkerage to compensate, giving them 3,018 to 3,160 tonnes for an endurance, of 26,000 nautical miles at 15 knots (48,000 km or 30,000 miles). That put any corner of the globe to their reach. They were also able to resupply theior own escort destroyers if needed. But in case of a hit in their engine compartment, they were dead in the water, having no redundancy. Fortunately this never happened.

Armament

Twin Bofors in HMS Searcher
The Attacker class escort aircraft carriers had classic 5-inch (127 mm)/51 cal. guns mounted on sponsons, on either side of the stern as built. They were mainly anti-surface guns, poorly iptimises against aircraft unlike the 5-in/38. These were replaced once arrived in Britain by older 4-inch (100 mm)/50 calibre Mk 9 surface guns for ammunitions compatibility. There was one forward on the poop and one at the stern.

Ordnance BL 4-inch Mk IX gun

True AA defence came from eight 40mm (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns in twin mounts two either side on the flight deck corners, plus eight 20-millimetre (0.79 in) Oerlikon AA cannons in twin mounts and ten in single mounts for a start in 1943, all located in sponsons alongsided the deck. But this varied between ships, with HMS Attacker, Chaser, Hunter completed with four single 20 mm AA remainder all twin, Battler had two single, Stalker six single, Fencer seven single 20 mm cannons, Pursuer had four extra 40 mm AA guns, Striker had six extra Bofors replacing twin 20 mm mounts. This imposed reinforcing the sponsons and making them wider.
This changed little over time, from four twin 40mm/56 Bofors Mk 1.2 and up to 14 twin 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk 1.2, and up to seven single 20mm/70 Oerlikon Mk 1.2, but Searcher having eight twin Bofors ten single Oerlikon. When possible in rare refits before 1945, Bofors were substituted to Oerlikons.

Sensors

It seems unlike the armament, the Attacker class kept their US radars, SC, and SG models.

SC Radar:

Introduced in 1942 Type Air/Surface-search radar.
Frequency was VHF band, PRF 60 Hz, Beamwidth 10–25°, Pulsewidth 4–5 μs
Range 48–120 km (30–75 mi), Precision 90–180 m (98–197 yd), Peak power 220 kW

SG Radar:

Surface-search radar introduced in 1942, 955 made,
Frequency 3 GHz, PRF 775, 800, or 825, Beamwidth 5.6° (horizontal), 15° (vertical)
Pulsewidth 1.3–2 μs, 4, 8, or 12 rpm
Range 15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi), precision 200 yd (180 m), peak power 50 kW.
The only change was the installation of british radio sets, fire calculator, and HF/DF (“Huff/Duff”) radio direction finders (RDF) installed.

Air Facilities

HMS Fencer’s flight deck being cleared from snow during an arctic winter convoy in 1944
Apart their large fight deck that measured 442 ft × 88 ft (135 m × 27 m), they had a small combined bridge–flight control starboard. This also had a map room, staff room, open bridge to control operations, fire control, and pole mast with communication antennae and radars. The flight deck was later lengthened to 137.2 m.
The hangar deck measured 262 ft × 62 ft x 16 ft (80 m × 19 m x 5.50 m), larger than previous escort carriers. The camber at the bow and sternprevented to make it larger.
They had two elevators measuring the same, 12.6 x 10.1 m (39 x 32 ft), 6.3t capacity placed at both ends of the flight deck, with pulleys were required for handling planes on and off these on the hangar deck, difficult in normal conditions and near impossible in rough seas.
The deck had nine arresting wires and three barriers at the stern plus an hydraulic catapult H-II (3.2 t plane was launched at 113 kph) at the bow. It could be as high as 3.5 t (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) and at a speed of 61 kn (113 km/h; 70 mph). Normal avgas stowage was as the Bogue class as 186,286 US gal (705,170 L; 155,116 imp gal) or 689,000 liters, but the aviation fuel bunkers had their capacity reduced to 44,800 imp gal (204,000 L; 53,800 US gal), from , for Royal Navy safety reasons.

Air Group

Grumman Wildcat on HMS Pursuer, just lifted up and prepared to be launched.
They had between 18 and 24 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Seafire, Martlet, Corsair fighters, Swordfish, Albacore, Barracuda torpedo bombers). Not all these time flew on board regularly, some were just tested or occasionaly landed. The regular air groups for a long time almosyt exclusively comprised Swordfish ahd seafires, sometime just one of the two types.
Normal capacity was for 20 anti-submarine or fighter aircraft, or mixture, with the Hawker Sea Hurricane being less common than the Supermarine Seafire, the Fairey Swordfish, as a staple and lend-lezase models such as the Grumman Wildcat, Corsair and Avenger. The composition depended upon the mission with composite squadrons for aiiatcks and raids, hunter-killer actions, convoy defence, landing cover. When ferrying aircraft they could carry up to 90 aircraft between the flight and hangar, sometimes packed in crates to gain more space. Some crates were too large for the lifts though.
In December 1942, HMS Attacker had four Swordfish in her first mission, only a defensive air group as she carried aircraft.
In June HMS 1943, HMS Battler sported 4 Seafire and 9 Swordfish. But it was mission dependent. For example in September 1943 HMS Stalker sported 19 Seafire.
In November 1943 HMS Fencer had instead a mixed air group with four Wildcat, and four Seafire, plus 9 Swordfish.
In December 1943 Striker had six Sea Hurricane and 9 Swordfish.
In April 1944 Searcher, mission based, had 20 Wildcat III (presumably) and in August 1944 HMS Pursuer had 24 of the new Wildcat IV.
As alternative to the Swordfish the more modern Tarpon (called Avenger soon after) was also used like in October 1944 Tracker having 10 of them,
By February 1945, HMS Searcher had 20 Wildcat and two 2 Firefly on board, likely for depth charge patrols.
In the summer of 1945 in the Pacific, HMS Stalker and others sported all 24 Seafire as main air group.
Some also had an amphibian, for patrols and liaison, the Supermarine Walrus, notably Fencer in 1943 and Stalker in 1945.

Two pilots of 834 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm on HMS Battler, standing by the nose of a Supermarine Seafire while off the coast of Greenock, Scotland in the summer.

HMS Chaser with Corsairs, used as ferry to the Pacific in 1945.

Fairey Swordfish

Swordfish 835 NAS HMS Battler 1943

Supermarine Seafire

Seafire Mark III 807 Naval Air Station, HMS Hunter, BEIF, Andaman Sea, May 1945

Hawker Sea Hurricane

Sea Hurricane Mark IIc, 760 NAS HMS Ravager, October 1944

Wildcat

Wildcat VI in May 1944, far east fleet.

Avenger

None found for these carriers.

Firefly

Firefly FR1 FAA 1790 NAS HMS Puncher, 1945.

Walrus

No profile found for these carriers.

Corsair

No illustration found yet, 18 Mark III in HMS Puncher in Sep. 1944, 1845 NAS.

Career

HMS Attacker (D02) was Converted from a merchantman under construction, Steel Artisan and mater Barnes (ACV-7) commissioned first by the USN on 30 September 1942, a Bogue-class, then decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day under Lend-Lease agreement. She acted first as a convoy escort in the Atlantic. But after further conversion by in October 1943, she became an assault carrier, and was later active in the Mediterranean after upgrades finished in December 1943, she embarked Seafires of 879 and 886 squadrons. She took part in Operation Hoops on 7 May, escorted Convoy KMS 51, Convoy KMS 52, was deployed to cover amphibious landings in the Mediterranean, from Torch to Husky, and the Italian campaign and later Far east and Pacific operations. Her shining moments in career were at Operation Dragoon in Souther France, Operations Outing I, Outing II, Manna in the Dodecanese, but in Asia she was deemed unfit for operation and in May and June, with HMS Hunter she acted as aircraft transport between India and South Africa to Ceylon. She was part however of Task Force 61 to participate in Operation Carson, attacks on Japanese shipping and airfields in the Penang and Medan areas of Sumatra with 879 NAS carrying strikes wit Ameer, Emperor, Empress, Khedive, and Shah.In late August 1945, she was present for the Japanese surrender of Penang, Malaya, concluding Operation Jurist and Operation Tiderace. Back home after repatriating POWS, she was retransferred to the USN on 5 January 1946, later resold to the civilian service as SS Castel Forte.

HMS Battler (D18) was converted from a merchantman under construction as Mormacmail or Altamaha (ACV-6), acquired by the USN on 31 October 1942, as a Bogue-class carrier, transferred to the Royal Navy, recommissioned as Battler on the same day. She acted as convoy escort in the Atlantic. From 8 December 1942 she carried 890, 892, and 894 NAS, with of six Martlet IVs each, and off Florida embarked six Swordfish, 840 NAS on 12 December, was in New York City on 18 December then Todd Erie Basin Dry Docks. to clean out her fuel tanks and on the 21th, sailed for Liverpool with Convoy HX 220. On 26 December 840 squadron disembarked as well later as 890, 892 and 894 NAS to RNAS Machrihanish. She had a refit at Harland and Wolff to RN standards in January until 4 April, and from 10 April she had 6x Swordfish Mark II ASW 835 NAS and nine Seafires, 808 NAS.

Maintenance crew bringing a torpedo-loaded Fairey Swordfish of 835 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm onto the flight deck of Battler by hydraulic lift. The escort carrier’s island can be seen in the background.

Battler embarked 20 Seafires and 2 Hurricane IICs at RNAMY Belfast on 23 May and ferried thel to Gibraltar. From Belfast on 4 June 1943 she had 5 Swordfish from 835 sqn on 5 June, 4 Seafires from 808 NAS from RNAS Yeovilton and was escorted by HMS Tyrian and Tumult on June 6, joining Convoy OS 49 from Liverpool to Gibraltar, arriving on 14 June and back in home waters, with Convoy KMS 16 and XK 9. On 24 June, her seafired downed a Focke Wulf FW 200 “Condor” shadowing the convoy. She took part in Operation Avalanche from Gibraltar on 2 August, along with HMS Attacker, Hunter, and Stalker covering the landings at Salerno.
On 1 September 1943 was was in Task Force 88 with Attacker, Hunter, Stalker, Unicorn and the cruisers Euryalus, Scylla, Charybdis, destroyers Cleveland, Holcombe, Atherstone, Liddesdale, Farndale, Calpe, Polish destroyers Ślązak and Krakowiak to Malta on 5 September for Salerno on 8 September. Theur aior groups were provided by Fighter Direction by HMS Ulster Queen. On 20 September she returned home for refit and replacement aircraft. Battler was assigned later to the Eastern Fleet, between Bombay and Aden convoys.
On 22 September 1943, with 834 NAS she joined Carlisle, Aldenham, Rockwood, the Greek destroyers Kanaris, Miaoulis, Themistoklis to escort Convoy KMF 24 to Port Said until 28 September, passed the Suez Canal to Aden on 4 October, having her boilers cleaned on 17 October, joining later Convoy AB 17 to Bombay on 26 October. On 4 November she departed with DDs Quiberon and Quality to join the LST Convoy AB 18A to Bombay. Next she covered the Convoy AB 20 to Bombay on November.
On 12 December, she sailed with Rotherham, Nepal, Plym to meet Convoy AB 24 to Bombay on 19 December. Next she escorted Convoy AB 27A, leaving Bombay on 26 December.
She then took part in Operations Thwart and Covered with the cruisers Kenya, Newcastle, Suffolk, AMC Canton, destroyer Nepal, frigate Bann as Task Force 62 for Operation Thwart in search for the blockade runner and U-boat supply ship Charlotte Schliemann off Mauritius from 19 to 21 January and then she was part of the smaller TF 64, with Kenya, and Nepal from 23 to 30 January, until called off on 30 January. By 4 February, she accompanied HMS Suffolk in Durban, and back to Mauritius in early March and Operation Covered, the search from 12 March for the german sperrbrecher Brake. A Swordfish of 834 NAS eventually spotted the tanker red handed with several U-boats alongside SE of Mauritius. Rocket armed Swordfish took off and started to shadow Brake until HMS Roebuck arrived at noon for her attack on Brake, which was scuttled, a Swordfish damaging one U-boat. Battler sailed to Durban for refit on 21 March 1944.
She carried Swordfish of 834 NAS from 24 June 1944, escorting Convoy CM 55 from Durban to Kilindini in June and Convoy KR 11 from Kilindini to Colombo in July, disembarked 834 NAS at RNAS Katukurundaand took on 6 Wildcat Vs replace her Seafires landed at Durban. In August 11, she received 834 NAS for A/S patrols off Colombo, sailed for Addu Atoll, Maldives and disembarked her NAS at RNAS Coimbatore. On 7 October she disembarked 834 NAS at Trincomalee and received 849 NAS Avengers.
She became a Ferry Carrier in November 1944, with 834 NAS bound for UK, stopped at Adabiya on 21 November but she unloaded Avengers for Hellcats to carry them to Sydney, departing Colombo on 9 December with HMS Achilles, destroyers Wager and Whelp, under Rear Admiral E.J.P. Brind onboard Swiftsure, Kempenfelt, Wessex, and Wakeful. On 1 February 1945 she was in Bilbao, Spain, and headed for Norfolk on 3 February to carry aircraft at NAS Norfolk for New York and join Convoy CU 59 to Liverpool.
Next she was sent to the Western Approaches Command to be used as Deck Landing Training carrier after modification in Belfast. She started service on 5 May 1945, with 768 NAS in the Firth of Clyde then Rosyth Command in June, and back to the Firth of Forth, also training 731 and 767 NAS until 8 January 1946. She was decommissioned in Greenock. Returned admistratively the to the USN which had her Scrapped locally in 1946–48.

HMS Chaser (D32/R306/A727) was the fromer Mormacgulf, Breton (ACV-10), transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as Chaser on 9 April 1943. She spent most of her career escorting convoys in the Arctic before being transferred to the British Pacific Fleet in March 1945.

HMS Fencer (D64/R308) was the ex-Croatan (ACV-14), transferred to the Royal Navy and recommissioned as Fencer on 1 March 1943. She mostly escorted convoys in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, and was later transferred to the British East Indies Fleet in October 1944. Returned 12 May 1946 she was sold, reconverted and became SS Aagtekerk.

HMS Hunter was an Attacker-class CVE laid down on 15 May 1941 as “Mormacpenn” by Ingalls Shipbuilding, but acquired on 9 January 1943 by the USB while being simultaneously transferred via Lend-Lease as Trailer and renamed HMS Hunter (D80) with the RN, she served until March 1945 and was attached to the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, taking part in Operation Jurist and Operation Tiderace in August 1945 (reoccupation of Malaya and Singapore). She was returned to the USN on 29 December 1945, sold to merchant service on 17 January 1947, as “Almdijk” and sold for BU in 1965.

HMS Pursuer was the former Mormacland St. George (ACV-17) from Ingalls Shipbuilding, transferred to the Home Fleet and used primarily on convoy escort duty. On 3 April 1944, she provided fighter support for the raid in Altenfjord against Tirpitz. On 26 April 1944 her Wildcats from 882 NAS attacked a German convoy off Bodo in northern Norway with supply ships and escorts. All supply vessels, one escorts were hit and beached or destroyed. In Bodo Harbour, one Wlcat armed with bombs hit a large supply ship. Pursuer suffered storm damage and had months long repairs.
She was tasked of ASW patrols during the Battle of Normandy. In August-September 1944 she was present for the landings in southern France, operation Dragoon. She was returned to the US by 12 February 1946, stricken 28 March 1946, sold for scrap on 14 May.

Ravager started as CVE-24 on 15 July 1943, transferred, standardized ti British needs, and started escorts in the Atlantic. After the war ended, she was returned to Norfolk on 9 February 1946, decommissioned and sold for BU on 1 July 1947 as the merchant Robin Trent.

Searcher was the ex-ACV-22. From 1943, she operated as Fighter Carrier. By late December 1943 she escorted convoys from UK to Norfolk and latter took part in the attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz in Operation Tungsten, also providing fighter cover. In August 1944 she took part in Operation Dragoon.
On 4 May 1945 with Queen and Trumpeter she took part in Operation Judgement, a large ASW sweep and sinking U-711 in Kilbotn harbour near Harstad in Norway. Grumman TBF Avenger escorted by Wildcats attacked the U-boat crew barracks ship MS Black Watch, tender MS Senja, floating flak battery Thetis (former HNoMS Harald Haarfagre). This was the last sinking of a U-Boat by the Fleet Air Arm in this war. Searcher later was sent to the Far East as part of the BPF (British Pacific Fleet) but arrived tool late, just as the war ended. She took part in POW repatriations, was returned to the US and resold into merchant service as SS Captain Theo, scrapped 1976.

USS Hamlin was the former CVE-15, built at Western Pipe in California and served as ACV-15 (auxiliary aircraft carrier) from 20 August 1942, before being transferred to the UK 21 December 1942. As HMS Stalker (D91) she started woth Atlantic escorts, the Salerno landings (September 1943) southern France landings (Dragoon) in August 1944 and from March to April 1945 attached to the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron. Returned to the US on 29 December 1945, stricken 20 March 1946 sold to Waterman Steamship Corp. in Alabama 18 December 1946, then to the Netherlands in August 1947, converted to the merchant ship Riouw then Lobito 1968, scrapped in Taiwan in September 1975.

Formerly Prince William (CVE-19) AVG-19, ACV-19 she was the former MC hull 198 at Western Pipe and Steel Company on 15 December 1941. As HMS Striker (D12) from 18 May 1943 she operated between November and December 1944 for escorts between Scotland and Australia with HMS Fencer, the latter ferrying Mosquitoes for the Far East. From March to August 1945 she worked with the BPF, attached to the 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron as flagship. Returned to Norfolk, 12 February 1946, stricken 28 March 1946, sold to the Patapsco Steel Scrap Co. in 1948 and BU.

Tracker was originally laid down 3 November 1941 under MARCOM contracted MC hull 233 at Seattle-Tacoma; 2nd replacement merchant ship Mormacmail for Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., purchased by the US Navy as BACV-6, converted as CVE at Willamette Iron & Steel in Portland, launched 7 March 1942, commissioned 31 January 1943, transferred as HMS Tracker and used as escort carrier in 1943–1944, for North Atlantic and Arctic convoys. She notably carried Swordfish-Seafires of 816 NAS then Avengers and Wildcats of 846 NAS. In April 1944 she took part in the sinking of U-288 east of Bear Island, while escorting convoy JW 58.
On 10 June 1944, she was in the Western Approaches Command covering for the D-Day landings, when colliding with the River-class HMCS Teme. Despite damaged she stayed until 12 June 1944. After repairs-refit in Liverpool on 7 September 1944 she departed for the US, now to be used only as aircraft transport, ferrying aircraft and personnel in the Pacific until V-day.
In August 1945 she sailed for the US, was returned and stricken November 1945, sold November 1946, merchant ship Corrientes; scrapped in 1964.

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GBR – D 79 HMS Puncher Booklet of General Plans (1944) by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington – HMS Puncher 1944
navypedia.org/ships/

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