SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2006

HMS RAVAGER - Attacker/Tracker-class Escort Aircraft Carrier
including Convoy Escort Movements

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  above left - sister-ship HMS Battler
(NP, click photographs for enlargements) 		 
 

H. M. S.   R A V A G E R   ( D 7 0 )

 

TRACKER-Class Escort Aircraft Carrier obtained under US/UK Lend Lease Agreement in May 1942. The ship  was  under construction by  Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation at Seattle under the USN defence programme for conversion of C3 mercantile hulls into auxiliary aircraft carriers (CVE) for escort duties. She was transferred to the RN as a  replacement for an earlier ship (CVE30) to be named HMS CHARGER but which had been retained by the US Navy for training of RN pilots renamed USS CHARGER. This replacement had been laid down on 11th April 1942 and on transfer was intended to become HMS CHARGER (ii) but the name was changed to HMS RAVAGER when she was launched on 16 July 1942. Fitting Out was completed at Portland, Oregon  by the Willamette Iron and Steel  Corporation on  25th April 1943. She was fitted with British radar outfits.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1943

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Barry wavy of ten  white and blue a torch erect Black

inflamed Proper in front of two swords in  saltire also proper pommels

and hilts  gold,.

(Note : Badge approved after WW2.)  

 

M o t t o

'Ruthless  unto Victory'

 

D  e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 3

 

April                       Contractors trials

                25th        Commissioned for Royal Navy service as HMS RAVAGER.

                26th        Build completion and commenced sea trials.

 

May                        Completed Sea trials..

                25th        Took passage to Norfolk, Va via Panama Canal.

 

July                         Passage from Panama

                2nd         Embarked 121 AVENGER aircraft at Norfolk for transport to UK

                13th        Arrived at New York

                15th        Took passage from New York Convoy HX248 with call at Halifax

                27th        Disembarked aircraft after detaching from convoy.

                28th        Deployed at Greenock for use as a Deck Landing Training Carrier

 

August                  Deployed in Irish Sea and Clyde areas for training duties,

to

October

 

November              Training duties in continuation

                29th        Sustained damage in collision with HM Escort Aircraft PRETORIA CASTLE in Clyde.

                                (Note : HMS PRETORIA CASTLE was also deployed in Clyde area for Deck

                                Landing Trials.)

                                Passage to Clyde for repair.

 

December              Under repair

                8th          Resumed training duties.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deck Landing training in continuation

to                            Nominated for deployment as a Ferry Carrier and to be refitted in Clyde shipyard.

March

 

April

                18th        Taken in hand for refit.

 

May

                1st           Resumed Deck Landing training in Clyde.

 

June                        Training duties in continuation

to

September

 

October                  Ceased training duties and embarked aircraft for transport to USA.

                20th        Joined outward Convoy KMF35A for passage to Gibraltar.

                25th        Detached from KMF29A on arrival at Gibraltar to await passage to USA.

                28th        Took passage to Norfolk with outward Convoy GUF15B.

 

November              Detached from GUF15B and took passage to Norfolk, Va.

                                Embarked aircraft for transport to UK.

                                Passage to New York.

                                Passage to Belfast from New York

                                (Note Passage with routine inward convoy to Clyde to be confirmed.).

                26th        Deployed at Belfast

                                Repair arranged in London

 

December              Passage to Thames.

                1st           Under repair at commercial shipyard.

                26th        Arrived in Rosyth to resume Deck Landing training

                                (Note: Time on passage suggests some form of trials in North Sea, To be confirmed.)

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

                4th          Carried out trials of Sonar underwater detection equipment.

                                (Note : Trials for aircraft equipment trial to be confirmed.)

                28th        Sustained damage in collision with mercantile BEN LOMOND.

                                Passage to Rosyth.

 

February

                11th        Under repair by HM Dockyard Rosyth.

                27th        Resumed Deck Landing training duties.

 

March                    Under repair.

to August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS RAVAGER was under repair until November 1945 and resumed Deck Landing training until the end of December that year. The ship was then Paid-off and de-stored prior to return to the US Navy. The ship was de-stored and British equipment removed before taking passage to USA with a reduced complement in. February 1946. She was formally returned on 27th February 1946.then sold for mercantile use ss ROBIN TRENT in 1948. Sold again in 1973 and renamed ss TRENT she was broken up in Taiwan and arrived  at the breaker’s yard in Kaohsiung, July 1973.. The RN name was re-introduced in 1947 when given to HM Landing Ship (Tank) 3505 which remained in service until being sold on 19th June 1961 for demolition.

 

 

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS RAVAGER

by Don Kindell

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy      Convoy No.            Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                              arrived

 

21/06/44                 27/06/44                 MKF 032               04/07/44                 04/07/44

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

  
 

 

further formatting is needed, but the data is being made available without delay

 

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