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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

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

HMS TRACKER (D 24) - Attacker-class Escort Aircraft Carrier
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Tracker (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

ATTACKER-Class Escort Aircraft Carrier obtained under US/UK Lend Lease Agreement. The ship was under construction as a mercantile by Seattle-Tacoma SB Corporation at Seattle and had been laid down on 3rd November 1941. She was launched on 7th March 1942 ss MORMACLAND and requisitioned on 2nd May 1942 by the US Navy for completion as an escort aircraft carrier (BAVG6) for transfer to the Royal Navy.  On completion of build on 31st January she was commissioned for RN service as HMS TRACKER. She was fitted with British Radar equipment.

 

B a t t l e    H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1943-44 - ARCTIC 1944 - NORMANDY  1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, the head of a Red Indian, couped at the  neck Proper.

(Note: Introduced after WW2)

 

M o t t o

Re Rawira

 

 

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

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

December              Contractor's trials.

                                (Note: Radar fitted was Type 79B for aircraft warning and Type 271 for surface

                                warning. See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. HF D/F Outfit FH3 was fitted

                                for use in determining position of wireless transmissions.)

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                31st         Build completion.

                                On completion of conversion commissioned for RN service as HMS TRACKER.

 

February                Carried cut trials and shakedown.

                                (Note: These my have been completed at RCN Base at Esquimalt, British Columbia.)

 

March

                13th        Took passage from Seattle to New York..

                23rd        Transit of Panama Canal

 

April

                4th          Arrived in New York

                                Embarked US aircraft for delivery to Casablanca.

 

May

                3rd          Sailed from New York as part of US Convoy UGF8

                10th        Disembarked aircraft on arrival at Casablanca

                                On completion sailed from Casablanca.

                13th        Deployed at Gibraltar

                30th        Sailed from Gibraltar for UK as part of inward Convoy MKF15 to Liverpool.

 

June

                4th          Detached from MKF15 and took passage to Belfast for refit.

                                Taken in hand for modification to suit RN deployment for convoy defence.

 

July                         Under conversion

 

 August                 On completion carried out post refit trials.

                                Embarked SWORDFISH and SEAFIRE aircraft and personnel OF 816 Squadron.

                                Commenced work-up in Clyde for operational service in Clyde area

 

September

                2nd         Deployed for deck landing training of 768 Squadron in Clyde

                                (Note: Aircraft of 768 Sq1uadron had been in HM Fleet Aircraft Carrier ARGUS.)

                23rd        Deployed in NW Approaches with 816 Squadron embarked to carry out anti-submarine

                                operations in conjunction with Support Groups in NW Approaches.

                                (Note: For details of allied and enemy weapons and tactics used in the Atlantic

                                see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by

                                J Terraine, THE BATTLE Of THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR

                                IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

                30th        Provided anti-submarine cover for passage of inward Convoy HX258 from Halifax and

                                outward ON203 to Newfoundland.

 

October

                                Returned to Clyde.

                2nd         Deployed with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE for defence of outward Convoy ONB207.

                25th        Transferred to provide anti-submarine cover for inward Convoy HX262.

                                (Note: Known assembly of SIEGFRIED and KORNER U-Boat Groups were being used to

                                make attacks on Convoys ON207, ON208, HX262, HX263, HX264, SC145 and

                                ONS21)

                28th        Deployed with HX262 and launched air patrols during refuelling of escorts.

                29th        Transferred to provide anti-submarine cover for passage of inward Convoys ON209 and

                                HX263.

 

November              Deployment with 2nd Escort Group in continuation.

                1st           Experienced severe weather which limited flying operations after damage to several

                                aircraft.

                                Transferred to south to operate in better weather conditions.

                5th          Aircraft launched to investigate area found by intercepted U-Boat radio transmissions.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.

                6th          Under attack by U262 which was detected by HMS KITE and sunk by ships of 2nd

                                Support Group.

                                U842 was later sighted by ship’s aircraft and later sunk by ships of Support Group

                                For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR

                                by C Blair.)

                7th          Provided anti-submarine air cover for passage of inward Convoy HX268.

                8th          Under torpedo attack by U648 with Acoustic GNAT torpedoes which missed.

                                Support Group ships anti-submarine search was unsuccessful.

                                Took passage to Argentia, Newfoundland to refuel

                                Delayed by heavy weather

                11th        Further delay by fog off Newfoundland.

                12th        Under repair to Machinery defects at Argentia.

                23rd        Sailed from Argentia to Norfolk Va.

                28th        Under machinery repair at Norfolk.

 

December

                5th          Sailed from Norfolk to resume anti-submarine operations.

                15th        Provided anti-submarine air cover in support of passage of inward Convoy HX270.

                28th        Disembarked 8165 Squadron aircraft and personnel.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                5th          Embarked 846 Squadron AVENGER aircraft and personnel.

                                Deployed to work-up Squadron for operational service,

                15th        Under defect repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

February

                13th        On completion sailed with sister ship HMS BITER to provide anti-submarine defence

                                in conjunction with 2nd Support Group.

                                Launched air patrol to carry out patrols in defence of outward joint Convoy

                                OS68/KMS43 and outward ONS29.

 

March

                2nd         Provided anti-submarine air cover for passage of joint inward Convoy

                                SL150/MKS41 with HMS BITER.

                13th        Arrived in Clyde for machinery repairs.

                                Nominated for service in Home Fleet on completion.

                25th        Sailed from Clyde for Scapa Flow.

                29th        Deployed as part of main escort for Convoy JW58 to Kola Inlet with HM Cruiser

                                DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ACTIVITY, HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,

                                INCONSTANT, OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLOW, OPPORTUNE, ORIBI, ORWELL,

                                SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, SCORPION, VENUS and Norwegian STORD.

                                (Operation FY)

                                (Note: For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA

                                by RA Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman

                                and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.

                                2nd Escort Group was also deployed for support of this operation.)

 

April

                4th          Detached from JW58 on arrival in Kola Inlet.

                7th          Joined return Convoy RA57 with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, SCORPION, ORWELL,

                                HM Corvettes BLUEBELL and HONEYSUCKLE, HM Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE,

                                WHIMBREL, WREN, and WILD GOOSE to supplement escort to Loch Ewe.

                14th        Detached from RA58 and took passage to Belfast.

                15th        Under repair to damage caused when aircraft had crashed on deck.

                29th        Deployed for anti-submarine search in support of passage of Atlantic convoys.

 

May

                3rd          Provided air cover in support of 1st and 2nd Support Groups during passage o

                                Convoy UC21

                6th          Passage to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet deployment

                                Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy after refit

                                (Operation NEPTUNE).

                                (For details of naval activities prior to and during the operation see OPERATION

                                NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)

                9th          Taken in hand for refit

                                On completion resumed Home Fleet deployment.

 

June

                3rd          Sailed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PURSUER and EMPEROR to position about

                                130 miles west of Lands End to prevent any attempt by German submarines to enter

                                Channel area to attack invasion convoys.

                                (Note: Escort Carriers were attached to Support Groups of Sloops and Frigates

                                of Western Approaches Command for this operation which was particularly

                                successful. See above references.)

                10th        Involved in collision with HM Frigate TEME and sustained damage

                11th        Disembarked 846 Squadron aircraft to RNAS LIMAVADI, Ulster.

                12th        Arrived at Belfast for assessment of repair work.

                                Repair arranged at Liverpool

                19th        Passage to Liverpool

                                Taken in hand for repair.

 

July                         Under repair.

to

August

 

September             Nominated for support of Russian convoy transit on completion of post repair

                                Trials.

                20th        Embarked 853 Squadron AVENGER aircraft and personnel

                                Worked –up in Clyde area for operational service.

 

October                  Work-up completion delayed for repair.

                5th          Under repair in Clyde shipyard.

                14th        Passage to rejoin Home Fleet

                15th        Arrived at Scapa Flow to resume Fleet service.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers NAIRANA and VINDEX with escort

                                of Convoy JW61 to Kola Inlet to provide anti-submarine cover.

                                (Operation TRIAL)

                                (Note: HM Frigates BYRON, CONN, DEANE, FITZROY, INGLIS, LAWSON,

                                LORING, LOUIS, MOUNSEY, NARBROUGH, REDMILL and RUPERT

                                provided surface support.)

                28th        Detached with above ships on arrival after unscathed passage of mercantiles.

 

November              Nominated for loan service with US Navy for deployment as a Ferry Carrier.

                2nd         Deployed for support of return Convoy RA61 and positioned within convoy

                7th          Arrived at Greenock after detaching with other carriers before RA61

                                completed passage at Loch Ewe

.                               (Note: Convoy RA61 arrived without loss. See references.)

                10th        Sailed from Clyde to New York.

 

December              Deployed for US Navy service.

                                (Note: Area of deployment to be confirmed. It may have been on east coast

                                of USA.

                                Nominated for service in Pacific.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

                1st           Took passage to San Diego via Panama.

                                Deployed at Long Beach to embark aircraft.

                29th        Sailed from Long Beach to US Navy Forward base in operational area

 

February                US Navy Loan deployment as Ferry Carrier for transport of aircraft for

to                            US Pacific Fleet in continuation

June

 

July                         Nominated for release from loan service

                19th        Passage from Long Beach to Panama.

                21st         Transit of Panama Canal.

                22nd       Passage to Norfolk, Va

                29th        Released from US Navy service and took passage to UK

 

August                  Arrived in Clyde

                9th          Commenced de-storing and removal of British equipment

                                Paid-off and reduced in Reserve status.

                                Laid-up in Clyde.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS TRACKER remained in Clyde until return to US Navy arranged. After a call at Portsmouth took passage to Norfolk Va on 14th November. Ship was returned to US Navy custody on 29th November and sold in 1949 for use as a mercantile and renamed CORRIENTES. She was sold to a Belgian shipbreaker in August 1964 for breaking up later that year.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS TRACKER

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

28/05/43

30/05/43

MKF 015

04/06/43

05/06/43

22/09/43

25/09/43

ON 203

26/09/43

10/10/43

22/09/43

30/09/43

HX 258

02/10/43

06/10/43

18/10/43

23/10/43

ON 207

25/10/43

04/11/43

18/10/43

28/10/43

HX 262

29/10/43

02/11/43

31/10/43

05/11/43

HX 264

08/11/43

17/11/43

10/12/43

15/12/43

HX 270

24/12/43

26/12/43

12/02/44

12/02/44

OS 068KM

23/02/44

23/02/44

24/02/44

24/02/44

KMS 042G

25/02/44

25/02/44

03/03/44

unknown

SL 150MK

09/03/44

14/03/44

27/03/44

29/03/44

JW 058

04/04/44

04/04/44

07/04/44

07/04/44

RA 058

14/04/44

14/04/44

20/10/44

22/10/44

JW 061

22/10/44

28/10/44

02/11/44

02/11/44

RA 061

07/11/44

09/11/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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revised 18/10/10
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