History

HMS Begum (D-38) was built in the USA at Seattle-Tacoma as USS Bolinas ACV/AVG-36 where she was laid down 3 August 1942. She was launched 11 November 1942 and commmisioned as CVE-36 on 22 July 1943. Transferred to the Royal Navy on 22 July 1943, she was commissioned on 2 August 1943 as HMS Begum.

Begum was one of the Ruler class ships. This 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 Begum's war record was confined to convoy escort duties then general purpose carrier supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya 1945. She was returned to the USN on 4 January 1946. She became mercantile Raki 1948, and I-Yung 1966. Scrapped at Kaohsiung 1974.

Battle Honours
Ruler - class Escort Carrier 1944 - 5. War service Indian Ocean 1945.

Captains
No information on Captains.

Squadrons and Aircraft

FAA squadrons embarked	Dates	Aircraft type
832	May 1944-Feb 1945	Avenger II/Wildcat V

Associations and Reunions
No information

Carrier name	HMS Begum  ex USS Bolinas ACV/AVG-36/CVE-36 Became Raki 1948, and I-Yung 1966.
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 3 Aug 1942. Launched 11 Nov 1942. Transferred 22 July 1943, Commissioned 2 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	Scrapped at Kaohsiung 1974
Notes

 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   NavSource Photo Archives Escort Carriers: HMS Begum  Details and history of HMS BEGUM Escort carrier  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). 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

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