History

HMS Atheling (D-51) was an American built ship constructed at Puget Sound Navy Yard as USS Glacier (ACV/CVE-33). She was laid down 9 June 1942, launched 7 September 1942 and transferred on 31 July 1943 to the Royal Navy. She was commissioned 31 July 1943.

Atheling was one of the "Ruler" Class, the third group of escort carriers built in the USA for the Royal Navy, and she was generally similar to the preceding "Attacker" Class. The modifications carried out to the earlier class after their arrival in the UK were incorporated in the "Ruler" Class during construction. Many of the class were used as amphibious support carriers, taking part in the invasion of Southern France. Others supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya, and some served with the British Pacific Fleet as escorts for the Fleet Train.

Atheling wss primarily involved in convoy escort duties, and subsequently as a fighter carrier. She was returned to the USN on 13 December 1946. She subsequently became the mercantile "Roma" 1950, and scrapped at Vado in 1967.

Battle Honours
Ruler - class Escort Carrier 1943 - 5

Captains
No information.

Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type
1838	Feb-april 1944	Corsair II
889	May-June 1944	Seafire L.IIc
890	May-July 1944	Wildcat V
1838	Aug 1-Sept 1944	Corsair II

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Atheling Ex USS Glacier ACV/CVE-33 Became Roma 1950
Class	Ruler
Type	Convoy and Fighter Escort Carrier (US built)
Ships in Class	Ameer, Arbiter, Atheling, Begum, Emperor, Empress, Khedive, Nabob, Patroller, Premier, Puncher, Queen, Rajah, Ranee, Reaper, Ruler, Shah, Slinger, Smiter, Speaker, Thane, Trouncer, Trumpeter
Launched	Laid down 9 June 1942. Launched 7 Sept 1942. Transferred 31 July 1943, Commissioned 31 July 1943
Tonnage	8,333 tons Gross displacement 14,000 tons Load 5667 tons
Engines	2 x Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 x Westinghouse geared turbines at 8500 shp, 1 shaft
Speed in Knots	18 knots
Armament	Gun 2 x 1 x 5"/38-cal DP 8 x 2 x 40mm AA 27-35 x 1 x 20mm AA
Crew Complement	646 Officers & Ratings including Air Group
Range
Length (ft/inches)	496
Beam (ft/inches)	69' 6"
Draught (ft/inches)	23'3"
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)	470'
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)	70'
Armour
Number of aircraft carried	18-24
Fate of carrier	scrapped 1967
Notes

 

FURTHER INFORMATION   British Forces. com web Information NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive. CVE-33 HMS ATHELING (Ex- CVE-33 GLACIER)   World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway American based World Aircraft Carrier Lists & Photo Gallery - one of the definitive online sources for British and world aircraft carrier & seaplane tender data, histories and images - over 1000 photos.  Aircarft profiles by Scott Fraser, owner of Tally Ho! The following profiles include Wildcat V, JV435, 890 Squadron, HMS Atheling Trade Protection Duties, Indian Ocean, May - July 1945  Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T  (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN: 0 85130 223 8 The World’s Warships 1941 by Francis E. McMurtrie (1944). Janes London 1941 1st ed.  Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II by Francis E. McMurtrie (Editor)(1944). 320 pages. Crescent Books; ISBN: 0517679639

        Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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