History

 
HMS Ruler (D-72) was built as a Ruler Class escort carrier in the USA at Seattle-Tacoma as USS St Joseph ACV/AVG-50. Laid down 21 March 1943, Launched 21 August 1943. Transferred to the RN 22 December 1943, Commissioned 22 December 1943,

The Ruler class 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. 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 Ruler designed as an Assault/Fighter carrier first saw service in the North Atlantic in 1944, subsequently in early 1945, she transferred to the Pacific Theatre joining the British Pacific Fleet and supported the campaign to take Okinawa. She also operated as an auxiliary carrier with the Fleet Train (TF112 Fleet Train Carriers - Commanded by Rear Admiral Fisher), flying 885 squadron Hellcats and Avengers.

March 1945 saw 1840 squadron embarking in Speaker from Schofields on the 9th and 1845 squadron in Slinger on the11th. These were to be replaced on 18 March 1945 by 1772 Squadron's Firefly Is disembarked  to Schofields from HMS Ruler and 885 Squadron's Hellcat Is disembarked from HMS Ruler on the 20th, the later was to stay in Schofields until April 4th before re-embarking in HMS Ruler.

On 14 June, 1945 the BPF Task Group 111.2 (Rear Admiral Eric JP Brind, RN), in Operation Inmate comprising fleet carrier HMS Implacable, escort carrier HMS Ruler, four light cruisers and five destroyers, attacked Truk atoll to neutralize Japanese air bases there. Over 200 sorties were flown against what targets could be found. The force     returned to Manus on 17 June and awaiting the Pacific Fleet.

Children aboard HMS RULER being transported from Japan to Sydney, Australia in August 1945.

Ruler was one of the Allied Ships present in Tokyo Bay during the Japanese surrender ceremony, 2 September 1945. Immediately postwar she was involved in delivering prisoners of war to Sydney, Australia.

She returned to the USN on 29 January 1946 and scrapped 1947.

Battle Honours
Atlantic 1944, Okinawa 1945

Captains
No information on Captains.

Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type
885	Dec 1944-Sept 1945	Hellcat I/II
1772	Jan-March 1945	Fiefly I

Associations and Reunions

HMS Ruler Association
          Contact: John Robson, 150 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast. BT5 7QQ
(date of last address 2000)
HMS Ruler / 885 Sqdn FAA: Reunion in Liverpool from 20 to 23rd April 2001

Can you help I am trying to locate the British aircraft carrier HMS RULER , my father left this ship in Sidney Harbour, Australia in 1945, after delivering prisoners of war to Sidney. She was last seen being fumagated in the harbour.
Peter Quainton <susanqblake@quainton100.freeserve.co.uk>
Oxford, Oxfordshire England - Saturday, February 05, 2000 at 19:35:18 (GMT)

 

Carrier name	HMS Ruler built as USS St Joseph ACV/AVG-50.
Class	Ruler
Type	Auxilary oiler 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 21 March 1943, Launched 21 August 1943. Transferred 22 December 1943, Commissioned 22 December 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 1947
Notes

 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   Ruler Class specifications by British Forces.com   NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive CVE-50 HMS RULER   (Ex- CVE-50 ST. JOSEPH) CLASS - BOGUE   A HISTORY OF THE MOBILE AIRFIELDS OF THE ROYAL NAVY 1944 – TODAY Mention of HMS Ruler Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (1976) Vol. 6, p.240. Summary history of USS St Joseph/HMS Ruler Escort Carriers of World War Two - by Poolman, Kenneth (1989). Published by Arms & Armour. ISBN 0853689520 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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