HMS Attacker (D02)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Attacker and USS Barnes.

HMS Attacker (D02) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 13 November 1942
History
United States
Name
  • Steel Artisan
  • Barnes
NamesakeBarnes Sound, Florida
Orderedas type (
MC hull 171[1]
Awarded30 September 1940
BuilderWestern Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California
Cost$7,992,456
Yard number62
Way number1
Laid down7 April 1941
Launched27 September 1941
Commissioned30 September 1942
Decommissioned30 September 1942
Reclassified
  • BACV-7, 20 Aug 1942
  • CVE, 15 July 1943
RefitConverted to AVG, 10 October 1941
Identification
Fate
  • Allocated to the Royal Navy, 1 March 1942
  • Transferred to the Royal Navy, 30 September 1942
United Kingdom
NameAttacker
NamesakeOne who assaults or assails an opponent
Acquired30 September 1942
Commissioned7 October 1942
Decommissioned29 December 1945
IdentificationPennant number: D02
Honours and
awards
  • Atlantic 1943–1944
  • Salerno 1943
  • South France 1944
  • Aegean 1944[2]
FateReturned to the
US Navy
, 5 January 1946
United States
NameBarnes
Acquired5 January 1946
Stricken26 Feb 1946
FateSold for commercial use, 28 October 1948, scrapped 1980
General characteristics
Class and type
Displacement
Length
  • 465 ft (142 m) (wl)
  • 496 ft (151 m) (oa)
  • 440 ft (130 m) (fd)
Beam
  • 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) wl
  • 82 ft (25 m) (fd)
  • 111 ft 6 in (33.99 m) (extreme width)
Draught
  • 23 ft 3 in (7.09 m) (mean)
  • 26 ft (7.9 m) (deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range27,300 nmi (50,600 km; 31,400 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Capacity
Complement646
Armament
Aircraft carried24
Aviation facilities

HMS Attacker (D02) was an American-built

Second World War
.

Converted from a merchantman under construction, she was commissioned by the United States Navy on 30 September 1942, as USS Barnes (CVE-7), a Bogue-class escort carrier; she was decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day under the Lend-Lease agreement.

Attacker served throughout the war, first as a

war in the Pacific. In late August 1945, Attacker witnessed the Japanese surrender of Penang, in Malaya, as part of Operation Jurist
.

Construction

The merchantman Steel Artisan was laid down on 17 April 1941, under a

US Navy on 30 September 1942, and decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day. On 7 October 1942, she was commissioned into the Royal Navy as under the command of Captain Shirley-Rollison, RN.[3][4]

Design and description

Attacker was the lead ship in what became the Royal Navy's Attacker-class of 11 ships; one of 38 escort carriers built in the United States for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.[5][6] The Western Pipe & Steel shipyards built three other ships in the class.[6] Once completed she was supplied under the terms of Lend-Lease agreement to the Royal Navy. There was a ships complement of 646 men, who lived in crew accommodation that was significantly different from the arrangements that were normal for the Royal Navy at the time. The separate messes no longer had to prepare their own food, as everything was cooked in the galley and served cafeteria style in a central dining area. They were also equipped with a modern laundry and a barber shop. The traditional hammocks were replaced by three-tier bunk-beds, 18 to a cabin, which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use.[7]

Attacker had an

kW), which could propel the ship at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph).[8]

She had the capacity for up to 24 aircraft which could be a mixture of

starboard side and above the 450 ft × 120 ft (137 m × 37 m) flight deck,[12] two aircraft lifts 42 ft × 34 ft (13 m × 10 m), and nine arrestor wires. Aircraft could be housed in the 260 ft × 62 ft (79 m × 19 m) hangar below the flight deck.[9]

anti-aircraft gun
mounting on the Attacker-class.

The ships armament concentrated on

40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns in twin mounts and ten 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons in single and eight in twin mounts.[9]

Attacker was designed to accompany other ships forming the escort for convoys.[13] The anti-submarine aircraft employed were initially the Fairey Swordfish and later the Grumman Avenger, which could be armed with torpedoes, depth charges, 250 lb (110 kg) bombs or RP-3 rocket projectiles.[14] As well as carrying out their own attacks on U-Boats, these aircraft identified their locations for the convoy's escorts to mount an attack.[15] Typically anti-submarine patrols would be flown between dawn and dusk. One aircraft would fly about 10 mi (16 km) ahead of the convoy, while another patrolled astern. Patrols would last between two and three hours, using both radar and visual observation in their search for U-Boats.[16] Attacker also had a secondary role, providing oil and provisions for her accompanying destroyers. This could be a lengthy process and was done on the move. It took 40 minutes from firing a line across to the destroyer to start pumping oil, while it took another two hours to pump 98 tons of oil and a further 35 minutes to disconnect the hose pipe and secure the equipment.[17]

Service history

On 12 November 1942, Attacker started her flying and sea trials off San Francisco. She had embarked four Swordfish I torpedo bombers of 838 squadron from Naval Air Station Alameda.[4] After completion of her trials, and being qualified for duty, she set sail for Balboa, on 12 December, with 838 squadron. She passed through the Panama Canal, and arrived at Cristobal, on 22 December. She later sailed for NAS Quonset Point, where she disembarked 838 squadron, 1 January 1943. Attacker was in Chesapeake Bay, during January, for a period of Deck Landing Training (DLT) with Martlets from 882 squadron, 896 squadron, and 898 squadron and Swordfish from 838 and 840 squadrons.[4]

On 2 March 1943, Attacker set sail for Curacao, with 838 squadron and six Swordfish from 840 squadron, for escort duty with

sister ships Battler, Hunter, and Stalker for Gibraltar, with aircraft from 886 (Seafire fighters and Swordfish torpedo bombers) and 879 (Seafires) squadrons on board.[4]

Mediterranean

Operation Avalanche

Attacker transferred to the

Rosyth Naval Dockyard, on 7 October, for conversion to an assault carrier, arriving 10 October.[4]

Conversion

Attacker at anchor in Greenock, Scotland

With her upgrades finished in December 1943, Attacker again embarked Seafires of 879 and 886 squadrons on 29 December, for training from January to February 1944, in her new role of providing air support for major military landings until shore based air strips became operational. Operation Avalanche had proven a need for this strategy. She returned to Liverpool, on 9 February, for further repairs.[4]

Attacker, along with Hunter and Stalker, were ordered to Scapa Flow, arriving on 5 May 1944, for participation in Operation Hoops scheduled for 8 May. However, before the operation was launched changes were made and the escort carriers Emperor, Searcher, and Striker were instead allocated and the three carriers set sail for Belfast, on 7 May, and arrived the next day.[4]

On 14 May, the three ships set out for the Mediterranean as additional escorts for the Convoy KMS 51, which had departed Liverpool, the previous day. Attacker detached from the convoy on 19 May, and put into Gibraltar, 24 May. On 2 June, she moved from her berth on the North Mole to the inside of the Detached Mole, where on the night of 4 June, while silhouetted behind the mole, an enemy submarine launched a torpedo at her. The torpedo detonated on the outside of the mole which caused to serious damage to Attacker. On June 6, she and Hunter sailed for Mers El Kébir, providing air cover for Convoy KMS 52.[4]

Operation Dragoon

View of Attacker, and other assault carriers, from Pursuer 7 August 1944, before Operation Dragoon

During June 1944, Attacker provided air cover for several convoys travelling in the Western Mediterranean. On 23 July, she sailed for Malta, in company with Khedive, Pursuer, Searcher and Emperor, anchoring in Dockyard Creek on 25 July, to prepare for Operation Dragoon.[4]

Attacker joined Carrier Force

Marseilles, on 21 August, until 23 August, when they returned to Maddalena, again to refuel and rearm. TF88.1 was released on 28 August. Attacker had completed 106 ground strike, bombardment spotting for Aurora, tactical reconnaissance missions and 120 bombing sorties. She left Maddalena, for Alexandria, on 29 August.[4]

Operations Outing I, Outing II, Manna

Attacker set sail on 14 September 1944, to participate in

Dodecanese Islands. She arrived 15 September, and relieved Hunter. She returned to Alexandria, on 20 September, to resupply, and returned to the Dodecanese Islands, on 27 September, for Operation Outing II. She again returned to Alexandria, 5 October, for further refuel and rearm. Hunter was again relieved by Attacker in the eastern Aegean Sea, on 11 October, for Operation Manna. Returning 30 October, to Alexandria.[4]

Attacker, along with Hunter and Stalker, set sail for the United Kingdom, on 31 October 1944, having been picked for service with the East Indies Fleet. After a brief stopover at Malta, on 3 November, the three carriers reached Plymouth, 10 November, for a short period of defect rectifications at the Devonport Naval Dockyard and the opportunity for their crews to go on home leave. On 29 November, the three set out for the Mediterranean, to undergo refits in transit to the Pacific. They arrived in Gibraltar, on 3 December, where Stalker was refit with Hunter proceeding to Malta, and Attacker proceeding to Taranto, Italy, their refits.[4]

After completing refit trials Attacker set sail on 1 April 1945, for Alexandria. She embarked 879 squadron on 14 April, then proceeded through the

Ceylon, arriving 29 April.[4]

Pacific War

Attacker was assigned to 21 ACS, but due to defects discovered during her transit to the Pacific Theater, she was deemed unfit for operation. During May, and part of June, Attacker and Hunter were assigned to aircraft transport duties between India and South Africa to Ceylon.[4]

Operation Carson

After a couple of training periods during June and July with 879 NAS she was allocated to

V-J Day while waiting on new orders. She had already been allocated to Operation Zipper, the planned invasion of Singapore, which was scheduled for September 1945. With the end of hostilities, they were a reoccupying force instead of an invading force.[4]

Operations Jurist and Tiderace

In late August 1945, Attacker witnessed the Japanese surrender of Penang, in Malaya, as part of Operation Jurist.[4]

In September 1945, Attacker was present at Singapore, as part of Operation Tiderace, sailing immediately afterwards for Clyde, to de-store and enter reserve.[4]

Naval Air Squadrons

Fleet Air Arm Squadrons stationed on Attacker[4]
NAS Dates Aircraft type
838 December 1942 – April 1943 Fairey Swordfish Mks.I
840 March–April 1943 Fairey Swordfish Mk.II
886 June–October 1943 Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc/Fairey Swordfish Mks.I
879 July 1943 – November 1945 Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc
886 December 1943 – February 1944 Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc
809 November–December 1944 Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc

Honours

Attacker was awarded Royal Navy honours for her contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic (1943–44), for support to the Salerno landings (1943), and to the South France and Aegean campaigns in 1944.

Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia, on 5 January 1946, and struck from naval service on 26 February 1946.[3]

Merchant service

Main articles: Fairsky and Ten Pound Poms

In February 1947, the ship was sold into merchant service to National Bulk Carriers of New York, who in preparation for conversion to a cargo ship, arranged for the removal of the vessel's flight deck and other wartime fittings. The work eventually stopped and the vessel was offered for re-sale. In 1950, it was bought by the Vlasov Group and placed under the nominal ownership of Vlasov's American subsidiary, Navcot Corporation. Renamed Castel Forte, the ship remained idle whilst suitable employment could be found.[19]

In 1957, Vlasov secured a charter from the

Sitmar Line.[19] On completion of the refurbishment in June 1958, the "new-look" vessel began a long career as a migrant-carrying ship, which was to last until 1974, with the final migrant voyage from Southampton to Auckland. On 23 June 1977, while operating as a cruise ship, Fairsky hit a submerged wreck and was beached to prevent sinking. The damage was temporarily patched and the ship refloated six days later. When the full extent of the damage became known, Sitmar decided against permanent repairs and they offered the vessel for sale.[20]

Having been reprieved from going straight to the breakers, in 1978, work began to convert the vessel to a static floating hotel and casino named Philippine Tourist. However, the ship was badly damaged by fire on 3 November 1979, and subsequently scrapped in Hong Kong, the hulk having arrived there under tow on 24 May 1980.[20]

References

  1. ^ Gerhardt.
  2. ^ Fleet Air Arm Officers Association.
  3. ^ a b DANFS.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Royal Navy Research Archive 2020.
  5. ^ Morison 2002, p. 344.
  6. ^ a b Cocker 2008, p. 79.
  7. ^ Poolman 1972, pp. 74–75.
  8. ^ Cocker 2008, pp. 80–81.
  9. ^ a b c Cocker 2008, p. 80.
  10. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 98.
  11. ^ Morison 2002, p. 342.
  12. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 57.
  13. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 155.
  14. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 135.
  15. ^ Cocker 2008, p. 147.
  16. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 79.
  17. ^ Poolman 1972, p. 102-103.
  18. ^ Hague.
  19. ^ a b Plowman 2006, p. 112.
  20. ^ a b Plowman 2006, p. 113.

Bibliography

  • Gerhardt, Frank A. "SS Steel Artisan". United States Maritime Commission 1936 thru 1950. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  • "Seaplane and Aircraft Carriers". Fleet Air Arm Officers Association. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  • "A History of HMS Attacker". Royal Navy Research Archive. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  • "Attacker". DANFS. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 10 December 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Cocker, Maurice (2008). Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press.
    ISBN 978-0-7524-4633-2
    .
  • Morison, Samuel (2002). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
    ISBN 978-0-252-07062-4
    .
  • Plowman, Peter (2006). Australian Migrant Ships 1946-1977. Kenthurst New South Wales: Rosenberg Publishing.
    ISBN 978-1-877058-40-0
    .
  • Poolman, Kenneth (1972). Escort Carrier 1941–1945. London: Ian Allan.
    ISBN 0-7110-0273-8
    .
  • Hague, Arnold. "Convoy CU 1". Retrieved 10 December 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 5111622.
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