History

Patroller (D-07) was built in the USA at Seattle-Tacoma and laid down 27 November 1942, as USS Keweenaw AVG 44 - ACV 44 - CVE 44. She was launched 6 May 1943, transferred to the Royal Navy on 22 October 1943, and commissioned 25 October 1943.

Patroller was a member of the "Ruler" Class, which was the third group of escort carriers built in the USA for the Royal Navy, and were 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. HMS Patroller on completion was fitted as an assault carrier but employed as a transport ferry. 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.

Patroller's wartime service  was primarily in a training and transport role. She was outfitted as a transport carrier where she served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres. She was loaned to the US Army as a transport carrier between 15 March 1944 to 2 May 1944, and subsequently loaned to the US Navy as a transport carrier 28 January 1945 to May 1945.

Patroller was returned to the USN on 13 December 1946 and served as a troopship postwar. She became mercantile Almkerk 1948 and Pacific Alliance 1969. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung 1974.

Battle Honours
Atlantic 1944 - 5, Pacific Atlantic 1945-6

Captains
No information on Captains.

Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Patroller Ex USS Keweenaw ACV/AVG-44.  became mercantile Almkerk 1948 and Pacific Alliance 1969.
Class	Ruler
Type	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 27 NOV 1942. Launched 6 May 1943. Transferred 22 Oct 1943, Commissioned 25 Oct 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 1974
Notes

 

FURTHER INFORMATION   Navsource photo archive : HMS PATROLLER   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)(1984). 320 pages. Crescent Books; ISBN: 0517679639 World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway

       Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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