History

HMS Thane (D-48) was a Ruler class Escort Carrier built in the USA at Seattle-Tacoma and laid down 22 February 1943 as USS Sunset ACV/AVG-48, and launched 15 July 1943. Transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned 19 November 1943 as HMS Thane.

The Ruler Class ships 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.

HMS Thane's wartime duties included mainly ferry and convoy transport escort. She was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-482 on 15 January 1945 off the Clyde Light Vessel, but survived and was towed to Greenock by HMS Loring, deemed beyond economical repair and put on reserve March 1945.

Thane was returned to the USN on 5 December 1945 and scrapped at Faslane 1946.

Battle Honours
Atlantic 1944

Captains
No information on Captains.

Squadrons and Aircraft
No information.

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Thane
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 22 February 1943, Launched 15 July 1943. Transferred 19 November 1943, Commissioned 19 November 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 at Faslane 1946.
Notes

 
 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   Navsource online: Escort Carrier photo archives HMS THANE http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/048.htm THANE 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

---

 
 
 
 
 
 

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