CVE Battler is confirmed sunk near Colombo by superior Japanese forces. Another flight deck sunk for very light losses to the Japanese airforce. BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!
H. M. S. B A T T L E R ( D 1 8 )
"ATTACKER" Class Escort Aircraft Carrier obtained inter US/UK Land Lease Agreement. The ship was under construction at Pascagoula, Mississippi by Ingalls and had bean laid down on 15th May 1941 for mercantile use as ss MORMACTERN. She was requisitioned by the US Navy on 26th Dec. 1941 for conversion as an auxiliary (AVG) to be named USS ALTAMAHA and was launched on 4th April 1942
This ship was transferred to the RN on 31st October 1942 when build was completed and and commissioned for service as HMS BATTLER, a name not previously used for an RN ship. Design changes made, based on the experience gained during build of the earlier ARCHER Class, included a larger hangar. Her propulsion machinery consisted of two steam turbines driving a single shaft as compared with Diesel engines used for previous conversions.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1942-43 - SALERNO 1943- EAST INDIES 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
None is list in official List of Crests but it is known that
unofficial Badge was used as shown in a 1944
photograph
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 4 2
October
31st Commissioned for Royal Navy service as HMS BATTLER
November Commenced Acceptance Trials
9th Sustained structural damage by striking a jetty during trials.
Passage to New Orleans for repair
10th Under repair.
15th Shipyard work completed.
(Note : It is presumed ship returned to builders yard on completion of repair in New Orleans.
20th Passage to Norfolk, Va
(Note : One source records that four SWORDFISH aircraft were embarked from Jamaica for
passage to UK and destined for 840 Squadron.
If ship joined Convoy HX220 which sailed from New York on 21t December the
these aircraft could have been embarked at Norfolk having been shipped to Norfolk.)
23rd Under further repair at US Navy Yard, Norfolk.
December
21st On completion of repair embarked 18 MARTLET aircraft for passage to UK
(Note : Four SWORDFISH aircraft may have been embarked. See above.
The MARTLET aircraft were destined for 840 Squadron.)
Took passage to join inward Convoy HX220 to UK during transit to Liverpool.
See above Note re departure date.)
1 9 4 3
January
9th Detached from HX220 on arrival in Liverpool
12th Taken in hand for modifications to suit RN deployment as an Escort Carrier.
Allocated for service in Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence.)
February Under modification including fit of British radar outfits,
March Passage to Clyde for work-up on completion of modification.
April Deployed in Clyde based at Greenock
(Note : It is assumed that personnel and aircraft for 808 (SWORDFISH) and 890 (MARTLET
Squadrons were embarked at Greenock
Aircraft may have been transferred whilst alongside or joined at sea in the Clyde.)
4th Commenced work-up including training of aircrew for Anti-submarine operations.
May Deployed for working-up in Clyde area and NW Approaches.
Nominated to provide air cover with escort for outward joint Convoy OS49/KMS16 during
passage to Gibraltar (KMS16) and West Africa (OS76)) in NW Approaches
June
4th Joined escort for OS46/KMS16 to provide air cover during passage to Gibraltar
13th Detached with ships destined for Gibraltar and provided air cover for re-designated
KMS16G during passage to Gibraltar
15th Detached on arrival at Gibraltar.
22nd Deployed with escort of inward Convoy XK 9 to give air cover during passage to Clyde.
July Detached on arrival of XK9 in North Channel
Squadrons disembarked
Nominated for support of planned allied landings on Italian mainland at Salerno
(Operation AVALANCHE)
Deployed in Clyde and prepared For AVALANCHE.
August Deployed in Clyde.
Embarked 807 and 808 Squadron personnel. with SEAFIRE aircraft
September
1st Took passage to Mediterranean
Joined Force V (Designated Force 88 for AVALANCHE) and took part in exercises in
preparation for landings at Salerno)
(Force V comprised HM Cruisers EURYALUS, CHARYBDIS, SCYLLA, HM Light
Fleet Carrier UNICORN, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ATTACKER, HUNTER and
STALKER with HM Destroyers CLEVELAND, HOLCOMBE, ATHERSTONE,
LIDDESDALE, FARNDALE, CALPE, HAYDOCK, Polish destroyers ORP SLAZAK and
ORP KRAKOWIA deployed as screen).
6th Deployed at Malta with Force V.
8th Provided air cover during passage of assault convoys to Salerno.
(Operation AVALANCHE. For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
C.Barnett and the Naval Staff History.).
9th Deployed off Salerno during assault landings for gunnery observation and defence of the
anchorage against air attacks.
(Note : During this operation air attacks using radio controlled bombs were used for the
first tine in the Mediterranean. See above references.)
Some aircraft were landed when shore airfield was available.
14th After release from AVALANCHE Force V disbanded.
Re-embarked aircraft and took passage to Gibraltar.
20th At Gibraltar
Passage to UK
(Note : Other Force V aircraft carriers also returned during this period and provided air
cover during the passage of military convoy from Gibraltar. Further research is
required to establish whether ship was also deployed for this duty.)
22nd Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in Indian Ocean based at
Bombay.
On arrival in North Channel disembarked aircraft and landed Squadron personnel
Embarked 834 Squadron and both SWORDFISH and SEAFIRE aircraft..
October Took passage to join Eastern Fleet
November Arrived at Aden and nominated to provide cover for passage of Convoy AB18A during
passage in Indian Ocean to Bombay.
4th Sailed from Aden with AB18
Detached from AB18 and took return passage to Aden
11th Provided air cover for passage of Convoy AB20 during passage to Bombay from Aden.
Deployed at Bombay. To be confirmed.
December
12th Provided air cover for passage of Convoy AB 24A during passage in Indian Ocean
from Aden to Bombay
Deployed at Bombay
1 9 4 4
January Deployed at Bombay
8th Provided air cover for passage of Convoy AB27 during passage in Indian Ocean from
Aden to Bombay
Diverted to carry out anti-submarine search operations off East African coast.
(Note : This was because of the known increase in submarine activity in Indian Ocean
For details see WAR WITH JAPAN Vol.IV (HMSO)
Deployed for aircraft search operations
February Indian Ocean anti-submarine search deployment in continuation,
Nominated for service with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE and HM Destroyer QUADRANT
in Force 67 to take part in an operation to intercept U-Boats which were known to be
refuelled from the supply ship CHARLOTTE.
Passage to join Force 67 at Mauritius.
March Joined Force 67 and began air search as required by Flag Officer in HMS NEWCASTLE
(Operation COVERED – See above reference.)
5th Sailed from Mauritius with ships of Force 67.
12th SWORDFISH from ship sighted tanker with two submarines alongside.
Carried air strikes with SWORDFISH aircraft during which on one of the submarine which
was hit but managed to escape.
(Note : The supply ship, identified as BRAKE scuttled by crew on approach of HM
Destroyer ROEBUCK which had joined Force 67 on 6th March)
16th Returned to Mauritius,
Deployed for trade protection in Indian Ocean and on release took passage to Durban.
21st Arrived at Durban for refit.
April Under refit.
May Deployed for Indian Ocean convoy defence.
June Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
(Note : Only one SWORDFISH aircraft of 834 Squadron was embarked.)
28th Provided air cover for passage of Convoy CM33 in Indian Ocean during passage
to Aden from Kilindini.
July Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
11th Deployed with escort of Convoy KR11 during passage from Kilindini to Colombo.
Deployed at Colombo
August Passage from Colombo to Addu Atoll.
Deployed to carry out anti-submarine air patrols for Indian Ocean convoy defence
based at Addu Atoll.
September Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
to
October
November Deployment for Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.
Nominated for return to UK
8th Selected for re-designation as a Ferry Carrier
December Passage to Australia
(Note : It may be assumed ship had provided air cover for convoys to Australia.)
9th Took passage from Australia to UK via Panama Canal
1 9 4 5
January Passage in Pacific
February Passage to Norfolk, Va after transit of Canal.
March On arrival nominated for service in Western Approaches Command..
5th Deployed for Deck Landing Training in Clyde are and NW Approaches.
April Deck Landing training in continuation.
May
24th Deployed in Belfast area.
June Deployment for deck landing training in continuation
4th Transferred to Rosyth Command.
July Deployed for Deck Landing training in North Sea
to Nominated for return to US Navy
December
1 9 4 6
January Passage to Clyde to de-store and remove British equipment
6th Arrived in Clyde
(Note : It may be assumed that a large proportion of ships company were drafted
back top Depots and only a Steaming crew retained.)
18th Prepared for Atlantic passage.
19th Took passage to Norfolk, Va.
February Arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard.
12th Formally returned to US Navy.
Final Phase
This ship was placed on the Sales List soon after return and sold for demolition in Baltimore. She arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard later that year.
