History

HMS Trouncer (D-85) was built as a Ruler class escort carrier in the USA at the Commercial Iron Works, Seattle-Tacoma and laid down 1 January 1943 as USS Perdido ACV/AVG-47. Launched 17 June.1943 she was transferred to the Royal Navy 31 January 1944, and commissioned 31 January 1944 as HMs Trouncer.

The Ruler Class were 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.

On completion, HMs Trouncer's duties were mainly ferrying and transporting, convoy escort in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Trouncer was returned to the USN 3 March 1946, and became mercantile Greystoke Castle 1949, Gallic 1954 and Ben Rinnes 1959. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung 1973.

Battle Honours
Pacific

Captains
No information.

Squadrons and Aircraft
No information.

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Trouncer Ex USS Perdido ACV/AVG-47 Became mercantile Greystoke Castle 1949, Gallic 1954 and Ben Rinnes 1959.
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 1 Jan 1943, Launched 17 June.1943. Transferred 31 January 1944, Commissioned 31 January 1944
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 at Kaohsiung 1973.
Notes

 
 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   Navsource online: Escort Carrier photo archive: HMS TROUNCER    World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway 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

     Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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