RN Aircraft Carriers: Avenger Class Escort 1942

[jbryce1437]

Four aircraft carriers were built in the USA in the Avenger Class, three of which were loaned to the Royal Navy as part of the Lend-lease programme, Avenger, Biter and Dasher, while the fourth, USS Charger, remained in the US Navy.
They were originally Merchant ships but were converted to aircraft carriers.
Avenger, commissioned in March 1942 and, together with Biter and Dasher, took part in Operation Torch, the allied invasion of North Africa in October 1942. HMS Avenger was sunk by a torpedo fired by U155, with heavy loss of life, on 15th November 1942.
Biter commissioned in May 1942 and served until 1945, when she was returned to the US NAvy and transferred to France as Dixmude after a refit.
She took part in several convoys and had a lucky escape in November 1943 when a Swordfish aircraft crashed into the sea and released her homing torpedo which struck the rudder and caused some damaged to the steering gear and underwater plates.
Dasher commissioned in July 1942 after which she undertook some aircraft ferrying operations in the Mediterranean. After leaving the River Clyde with a convoy she suffered engine trouble and turned back. Shortly after reaching the Firth of Clyde on 27th March 1943, she suffered a major explosion internally and sank with the loss of 378 of her 528 crew.


HMS Avenger

avenger-1942.jpg

HMS Biter

biter 1.jpg

HMS Dasher

hms dasher swordfish launch ec.jpg

[ivorthediver]

What a knowledgable man you are Jim , I had know idea there were so many different types of Carriers made and commissioned , you are certainly educating me , for which I'm very grateful .

My knowledge has be default centred only around the more famous carriers which I wrongly assumed were all that existed , so again my thanks

[jbryce1437]

What a knowledgable man you are Jim , I had know idea there were so many different types of Carriers made and commissioned , you are certainly educating me , for which I'm very grateful .

My knowledge has be default centred only around the more famous carriers which I wrongly assumed were all that existed , so again my thanks

I am not all that knowledgeable Ivor, just relying on other knowledgeable people (mainly Wiki) to get the background for each class, rather than just posting a photo.
All of my photos are arranged in folders, ie by Type - Aircraft Carrier, Battleship and Dreadnoughts, Destroyer, etc etc. Those folders are then sub divided into Classes - Archer, Attacker, Avenger etc, etc, for Carriers.
Those Classes are further sub-divided into Ships Names, so that each ship of the class has its own folder, but only if I have a photo of it.
I currently have around 15 class folders for Carriers, 29 class folders for Battleships and Dreadnoughts, 70 class folders for Cruisers and Monitors, 45 class folders for Destoyers, 39 classes for Frigates, Sloops and Corvettes, etc. etc.
Thanks to the generosity of many of the members of the old Forum who kindly shared their photos.
I just right clicked on my photo collection section and it shows there are 42,131 Files (photos) in 5,237 Folders taking up 13.2 Gb of hard drive space.
Consequently, it is going to take a long time to add all of the Classes, etc

JIm

[ivorthediver]

Well which ever way you look at it Jim , either by knowledge or research I know of no other expanse of knowledge to match yours ......so allow me to toff my hat Sir........

Whilst I agree that the WNSF crew who helped us both so much were the backbone of MY knowledge yours is far more diverse and detailed , but your net is spread over a greater subject matter .mine on the subject in hand whilst researching a specific vessel.which is my hobby and interest not my profession

As you so rightly point out those who imparted the detail had in most cases a personnel connection to the fact, whilst in many cases, ours was peripheral.

By the fact that if it was your trade and you spent twenty odd years practicing it then its fair to assume that this soul had a professional mind on a detailed field ...i.e.
take our Comms boys Harry and Dave it would be hard to put one over on them ......but only by virtue of the fact that they were specialists in their field .

So don't sell yourself short and keep up your splendid work please

[jbryce1437]

By the fact that if it was your trade and you spent twenty odd years practicing it then its fair to assume that this soul had a professional mind on a detailed field ...i.e.

I only served eleven Ivor, I spent longer in the Fire Brigade (28 years) but navy life is through my blood and it was the making of me.

Jim

[ivorthediver]

I admire your candour Jim , and adds to your credit , you obviously made good use of your time in the RN ., my life was set on a different course sadly due to other issues and health issues , but have always loved the SEA and everything on it and in it , I envy you

[Brian James]

Billowing smoke marks the end of the Ammunition Ship SS Mary Luckenbach, pictured from the deck of Escort Carrier HMS Avenger, during Convoy PQ 18 to Russia on September 13th 1942. The ship was attacked by several German aircraft, and was hit by an aerial torpedo. The impact of the torpedo struck the ship's cargo of 1,000 tons of TNT. The explosion was so violent the ship was basically vapourized along with the entire crew of 66.

[Pelican]

HMS Avenger (D-14), unknown location. Note camouflage on deck. Six Sea Hurricane IIC fighters are lined-up on the centre line.