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HMS Hunter (1943) CVE (16th) |
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This the sixteenth ship to carry the name HMS Hunter was an
Attacker Class, escort aircraft carrier. Built by Ingalls of Pascagoula, laid down as the merchant ship Mormacpen, converted to a carrier and launched 22-May-1942 as the USS Block Island AVG8. Transferred 09-Jan-1943 to the Royal Navy on Lend-Lease as HMS Hunter. After arrival in the UK, refitted to RN standards at Dundee 12-Apr-1943 and later worked up in the Clyde as a fighter carrier. Moved to the Mediterranean Sep-1943 and took part in the Salerno landings, 'Operation Avalanche'. There her aircraft provided fighter cover over the beachead. Returned to Dundee for repairs, and on 03-Dec-1943 after these were completed her deck plating fractured. Repairs were done at the Clyde. Returned to the Mediterranean May-1944, and took part in 'Operation Dragoon', the landings in Southern France. Served in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sep/Oct-1944. Returned to the UK Nov-1944, when she was allocated to the East Indies Fleet. On the way there, refitted at Malta Dec-1944 to Feb-1945 and arrived at Trincomalee 08-Mar-1945. Operated in the East Indies until the end of WW2. Arrived in the UK Oct-1945 and de-stored at the Clyde. Returned to the US Navy 29-Dec-1945 at Virginia. Sold as the merchant ship Almdijk. Scrapped at Valencia 02-Nov-1965. Won the Battle Honours: Salerno 1943, Atlantic 1943-44, South France 1944, Aegean 1944 and Burma 1945.
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This page last edited -
21 March, 2013.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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