History

HMS Empress (D-42) was built by the USA at Seattle-Tacoma, being laid down 9 September 1942 as USS Carnegie CVE/AVG-38. and launched 30 December 1942. She was transferred to the Royal Navy on 8 June 1943 and commissioned 9 August 1943.

Empress was in the third group of escort carriers built in the USA for the Royal Navy, which were generally similar to the "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.

HMS Empress was an assault carrier and fighter carrier which saw war service in the Atlantic and East Indies. She supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya in 1945. She was returned to the USN on 4 February  1946 and scrapped.

Battle Honours
Atlantic 1944, Burma 1945.

Captains
No information on Captains.

Model of HMS Empress Hellcat B-8H, 1945

Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type
850	Jan-April 1944	Avenger I
804 dt	Feb-March 1945	Hellcat II
845	Feb-March 1945	Avenger I
888	Feb-March 1945	Hellcat II
804	April 1945	Hellcat II
845	May-June 1945	Avenger I
888	May-June 1945	Hellcat II
896	June-Sept 1945	Hellcat II

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Empress Ex USS Carnegie CVE/AVG-38
Class	Ruler
Type	Assault 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 Sept 1942. Launched 30 Dec 1942. Transferred 8 June 1943, Commissioned 9 Aug 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	retuned to USN 4 February 1946 and scrapped
Notes

 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway   Navsource archives: HMS  EMPRESS   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). Jane's London 1941 1st ed.  Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II by Francis E. McMurtrie (Editor)(1984). 320 pages. Crescent Books; ISBN: 0517679639

       Last Modified: 23-2-2001

---

 
 
 
 
 

Return to Home Page

 

This page is published by Fleet Air Arm Archive and is updated regularly.
© 2000-2001 All rights reserved for all information created for or on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm Archive
Contact email: drucker@fleetairarmarchive.net