1 9 4 3
April Contractors trials
28th Build completion
29th Formally transferred to Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS STRIKER.
May Carried out sea trials and shakedown off San Francisco.
29th Sailed from San Francisco for Norfolk via Panama
June Passage to east coast USA
20th Carried out further work-up off Norfolk, Va.
Passage to New York.
30th Joined Convoy HX246 in New York for passage to Clyde.
July
13th Detached from convoy on arrival in Liverpool.
Passage to Sheerness
18th Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Chatham for modifications to suit RN service for
(Note: Modifications to petrol distribution system introduced after the loss of HMS DASHER
were unlikely to have been carried out during this period.)
August Under refit
to Allocated for service in Western Approaches Command for convoy defence.
September
October On completion of post refit trials took passage to Clyde for work-up.
Embarked 824 Squadron aircraft and personnel..
21st Commenced work-up for operational service in Clyde area.
November Work up in continuation
25th Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
December On completion joined 1st British Escort Group.
16th Provided anti-submarine air cover for joint convoy KMS26/OS62 during its Atlantic passage.
24th Under attacks by U-Boats of BORKUM Group during which HM Destroyer
HURRICANE was sunk by acoustic torpedo fired from U305. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.
(Note: BORKUM Group were deployed to cover return of the Blockade Runner OSORNO
which was later attacked by RAF aircraft after sighting by aircraft from ship
ORSONO later was beached after striking a wreck in Gironde estuary.)
28th Provided anti-submarine air cover for joint inward Convoy SL143/MKS34 during passage
to Liverpool.
1 9 4 4
January Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1st Provided anti-submarine air cover for outward joint Convoy OS63/MKS37 during Atlantic passage
7th Provided anti-submarine air cover for joint inward Convoy SL144/MKS35 during passage to
Liverpool.
17th Retuned to Clyde and taken in hand for repair and routine maintenance in Clyde shipyard
(Note: Ship had been at sea for 26 days.)
February Nominated for deployment with HM Escort Carrier FENCER.
8th Sailed for anti-submarine support of passage of outward Convoy ON223.
15th Provided anti-submarine air cover for passage of inward Convoy HX277.
19th Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
March On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
4th Provided anti-submarine air cover for passage of joint outward Convoy OS70/KMS 44 during
passage in NW Approaches.
9th Deployed with HM Frigate BAYNTUN and HM Corvettes CLOVER and carried out air attacks
on U575 which had sunk HM Corvette ASPHODEL part of escort for joint inward convoy
SL150/MKS41.
(Note: U575 was fitted with SCHNORKEL. For details see U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO). Submarine escaped but was itself sunk on
13th March when carrying attack on Convoy ON227. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
18th Transferred to Home Fleet for planned operations.
21st Deployed to provide anti-submarine cover during attacks on shipping in Bodo and Rorvik areas
by HM Fleet Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS, VICTORIOUS, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
EMPEROR, PURSUER and SEARCHER (Operations RIDGE ABLE and RIDGE BAKER.)
23rd Took part in Home Fleet air operation to attack German battleship TIRPITZ
with HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS and FURIOUS, HM Escort Carriers
SEARCHER, EMPEROR and PURSUER. Cover was provided by HM Battleship
ANSON and cruisers with screen of destroyers (Operation PLANET).
24th Operation delayed 24 hours by weather.
25th Operation cancelled due to weather conditions.
26th Took part in air operations against Norwegian coast shipping near Bodo.
(Note: Three ships were sunk for loss of six aircraft from carriers.
May Home Fleet duties in continuation for attacks on shipping off Norway.
11th Embarked 898 Squadron WILDCAT aircraft and personnel for additional support
Resumed service in Western Approaches
15th Provided anti-0submarine air cover during Atlantic passage of outward joint Convoy
OS77/KMS51
(Note: Sister ships HMS ATTACKER and HMS HUNTER were also on passage in Atlantic
for service in Mediterranean.)
June Transferred to Home Fleet for planned Norwegian coast operations.
(Note: Did not take part in Normandy landings (Operation NEPTUNE) and not deployed
with Home Fleet covering Force for NEPTUNE.
12th Took part in attacks on shipping at Rorvik and shore targets at Fossesaag with HMS
EMPEROR.
20th Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier FENCER and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD
(Operation WANDERERS)
Remained at Scapa Flow for Norwegian coast operations.)
27th Taken in hand for defect repair in Clyde shipyard.
July On completion resumed service in Western Approaches
10th Deployed with HMS VINDEX and 3rd Escort Group to carry out anti-submarine operations
in Cape Wrath area.
(Note: This was the last lengthy joint anti-submarine operation by CVE with an Escort Group
and Coastal Command aircraft.. It was satisfactorily continued in weather conditions
which precluded additional support by RAF aircraft.)
27th Returned to Scapa Flow
Transferred to SW Approaches for service in Plymouth
Command.
Passage to Plymouth
August
1st Deployed to provide air cover for HM Cruisers Diadem, BELLONA and
ships of 10th Destroyer during search for enemy convoys off French coast.
(Note: This proved unsuccessful and no ships were sighted by ship’ aircraft.
On release from Plymouth Command took passage to resume Home Fleet
service at Scapa Flow.
Nominated for provision of anti-submarine air cover during passage of of Russian
Convoy JW59.
(Note: This convoy included HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and other
warships being transferred to Soviet Navy.)
17th Joined escort for JW59 with HM Cruisers JAMAICA and HM Escort Carrier
VINDEX, HM Destroyers CAPRICE, MARNE, METEOR, MILNE and
MUSKETEER (Operation VICTUAL)
(Note: Close escort included ships from Western Approaches.
For full details of all Russian Convoys and ships of escort see CONVOYS TO
TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY ! by P Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS
by R. Woodman and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.).)
21st HM Sloop KITE of escort was sunk by U344 with only nine survivors.
22nd Embarked aircraft shot down shadowing flying boat.
(Note: HMS VINDEX aircraft sank U344.)
24th Detached from JW59 on arrival at Kola Inlet.
(Note: Embarked aircraft flew 133 sorties during passage.)
28th Sailed from Kola Inlet as part of escort for return Convoy RA59 with same
ships as for JW59.
September
5th Detached from RA59 after arrival in NW Approaches.
17th Deployed with HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA to provide air cover during
passage of Russian Convoy JW60.(Operation RIGMAROLE)
(Note: Other ships in escort included HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser
DIADEM, Home Fleet destroyers and escorts from Western
Approaches.)
23rd Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet after unscathed passage.
(Note: Strong escort was provided because of possible threat by TIRPITZ.
German battleship was however un-seaworthy after air attacks.)
28th Joined escort for return Convoy RA60 with same ships.
October
3rd Detached from RA60 with Home Fleet ships and returned to Scapa Flow.
6th Under repair of defects in Clyde shipyard.
Nominated for service with 3oth Aircraft Carrier Squadron, British Pacific Fleet
and to be deployed as a Replenish Carrier.
31st Took passage to Australia to join Squadron
November Passage in Atlantic and Mediterranean
Transit of Suez Canal
December Passage in Indian Ocean
1 9 4 5
January
7th On arrival at Sydney allocated for service in Fleet Train (Task Force 112.)
Prepared for service as a Replenishment Carrier.
February Joined 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron.
(Note: HM Escort Carrier SLINGER was also in Squadron.)
These ships were to be used to carry replacement aircraft to RN
Carriers of BPF in the operational area.)
Took passage to BPF Forward base at Manus, Admiralty Islands with TF112.
Allocated to Task Unit 112.2.1 with six RFA Tankers for support of BPF ships.
March
7th Deployed at Manus for support of BPF.
19th Sailed from Manus with 18 replacement aircraft and took passage to operational area.
(Note: Participation of ships of British Pacific Fleet in attacks on Sakishima-Gunto Group
was approved by US Chiefs of Staff (Operation ICEBERG ONE).
For details of the various factors affecting use of BPF with US Navy in
operations in Pacific see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by John Winton,
OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and TASK FORCE 57 by P Smith.)
BPF ships designated Task Force 57 of US 5th Fleet to be supported by TF112.
25th Deployed Replenishment Group during first refuelling of TF57 prior to operations.
Launched four replacement aircraft to Task Force 57 carriers.
28th With Replenishment Group during refuelling of TF57 ships.
Launched 13 replacement aircraft to Task Forec57 carriers and recovered three flyable
but unserviceable aircraft
Transferred AVENGER aircrew to 854 Squadron in HM Fleet Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS
Passage to Leyte on completion..
April Deployed for aircraft replacement during ICEBERG ONE.
(Note: Other ships in Group were HMS SPEAKER, HM Sloops CRANE and
PHEASANT, HM Frigate FINDHORN, HM Destroyers QUALITY and
WHELP with six tankers.
5th Sailed from Leyte with 14 replacement aircraft.
8th Supplied 12 replacement aircraft to Task Force 57 carriers and recovered four flyable but
unserviceable aircraft.
Transferred AVENGER aircrew to 854 Squadron in HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Note: Ships of TF57 returned to Leyte on 23rd April to replenish including aircraft
replacements.
46 aircraft were ferried to TF57 Fleet Carriers during ICEBERG ONE by
HMS SLINGER and HMS STRIKER.)
May
3rd Sailed from Leyte with HMS RULER for support of TF57 ships during continuation
of air attacks on Sakishima-Gunto Group (Operation ICEBERG TWO).
6th Deployed in Replenishment area.
Transferred 15 replacement aircraft to Task Force 57 carriers.
Embarked 34 casualties from HM Fleet Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE
(Note: These were victims of a bomb hit during air attacks on 4th May.)
Passage to Leyte
14th Deployed with Logistics Support Group for aircraft replacement during refuelling
of TF57.
Transferred 14 replacement aircraft to carriers of Task Force 57 and recovered one
flyable unserviceable aircraft.
(Note: Group also included HMS RULER, HMS CRANE, HMS PHEASANT, HM
Sloop WOODCOCK, HM Destroyer NIZAM with two Tankers.
Embarked casualties from Hospital Ship OXFORDSHIRE for passage to Leyte.
(Note: This is to be confirmed.)
15th Transferred six replacement aircraft to carriers of Task
Force 57 and recovered one
unserviceable aircraft.
23rd Transferred aircraft to carriers of Task Force 57.
On completion took passage to Manus,
(Note: This was the last replenishment of Task Group 57 ships during ICEBERG TWO)
June Passage to Sydney with ships of Fleet Train.
(Note: Ships of BPF were transferred to US 3rd Fleet following reorganisation
of US Navy in Pacific theatre and redesignated Task Force 37.
Nominated for continued service as Replenishment Carrier in TF112 in support
of BPF ships during operations off Japan.
Passage to Manus for replenishment carrier duties.
July Deployed with HMS ARBITER, HMS SPEAKER and HMS CHASER for supply of
replacement aircraft for TF37 Fleet Aircraft Carriers during operations off Japan.
(See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET for details.)
Became Flagship of 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron
9th Sailed from Manus with sister ship HMS ARBITER.
(Note: Ships in Logistics Group included HMS NAPIER, HMS NIZAM, HMS
PHEASANT, HMS REDPOLE, HMS WHIMBREL, HMS FINDHORN and
HM Australian Minesweeper GAWLER with three Tankers and a Stores
Ship.
20th Deployed with HMS ARBITER and HMS RULER in Fleet Train during replenishment
of TF37 off Japan.
Transferred aircraft to carriers of Task Force.
27th Deployed with Logistics Group with HMS SPEAKER and HMS RULER for
aircraft replacement during refuelling period.
(Note: Ships in Logistics Group included HMS NAPIER, NIZAM, NEPAL, HMS
PHEASANT, CRANE, REDPOLE, HM Frigates PARRET and PLYM, HM
Australian Minesweepers WHYALLA, PIRIE and LAUNCESTON with
four tankers and three Supply Ships. This was the last replenishment
operation in which ship took part.)
August Passage to collect replacement aircraft.
2nd Arrived at Manus.
4th Sailed from Manus with replacement aircraft
6th Diverted and ordered to return to Manus.
(Note: BPF ships were withdrawn from Task Force 37 apart from Token Force
on 12th August because of lack of fuel from British tankers. See above
references.)