1 9 4 3
October Contractor’s
trials.
(Note:
Three US Navy radars were fitted during build. Type SK for aircraft
detection, Type SG for
surface warning and a fire-control outfit for the control of
Close Range AA Armament. The
main armament comprised two 5”standard US Navy guns and over
50 Close Range AA guns.)
November
8th Build completion and transferred to
the Royal Navy
Commissioned as HMS RANEE.
Commenced sea trials and shakedown.
Passage
to Esquimalt for completion of modifications to suit deployment by RN for convoy
defence
Taken in hand for modification by HM Canadian Dockyard.
December Modification
work in continuation.
1 9 4 4
January On
completion of modifications carried out sea trials off Vancouver
28th Assisted HM Escort Aircraft Carrier HMS
NABOB which had run aground.
Sustained structural damage to stern whilst attempting to refloat the stranded sister ship.
(Note:
Stores and fuel had to be jettisoned before HMS NABOB could be refloated)
Taken in hand for repair.
February
2nd Nominated for detached services for use
by the US Navy as a Ferry Carried
On
completion of repair took passage to San Francisco
Called at San Francisco to embark aircraft for delivery to Cochin, India.
8th Took passage to Wellington, New Zealand
25th Arrived at Wellington
26th Took passage to Fremantle, Australia
March Passage in Indian
Ocean
18th Arrived at Cochin and disembarked aircraft.
31st Took return passage to Vancouver with call
at Melbourne, Australia.
June
28th On completion took passage to San Francisco
July
17th At Cristobal, Panama after transit of Panama Canal.
Passage
to Norfolk, Va
August
17th Deployed at Norfolk
September Embarked
aircraft for transport of US Navy aircraft to Cape Town.
5th Took passage to Cape Town.
23rd Deployed at Cape Town and disembarked aircraft.
October Return
passage to USA after disembarking aircraft.
Returned
to RN control
Deployed
at New York and embarked 18 CORSAIR aircraft for delivery to UK.
Passage to Clyde
from New
York.
November
2nd Disembarked
aircraft at Belfast.
Took passage to Norfolk for collection of aircraft for RN use.
18th At Norfolk, Va
and embarked 18 CORSAIR aircraft for delivery to UK
(Note : Embarkation of Squadron personnel to be confirmed)
December
3rd Disembarked
aircraft in Clyde area on arrival.
(Note : Further passage to Norfolk and return
to Clyde
to be confirmed.
Took
passage to Forth
27th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Rosyth
(Note : The Fuel Distribution System may have been
modified..)
1 9 4 5
January Nominated
for service as a Deck Landing Training Carrier.
Deployed in Clyde
area for training.
Nominated for further deployment as a Ferry Carrier for US Navy.
21st Took passage to San Diego to embark aircraft.
Nominated
for deployment with Training Squadron in Home waters
February On
arrival deployed for transport of US Navy aircraft
March Detached
service with US Navy in continuation.
to
April
May Released
from US Navy detached service
2nd Sailed from San Diego for New York
24th Sailed from New York for Clyde.
Nominated
for refit and passage to Forth
June Under
refit by HM Dockyard Rosyth,
to Nominated for
deployment as a troopship.
August
September Conversion
to be completed by Tyneside commercial shipyard
Passage
to Tyne
12th Under conversion.
(Note : Hangar area modified to provide accommodation for
passengers
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes was changed to R323 to conform
with US Navy identity for this type of warship.)
