| Avenger class Escort
Carrier |
| |
| This page
written by Bruce T. Swain |
| |
| Name |
Builder |
Converted |
Commisioned |
| Avenger |
Sun
Shipbuilding |
27
November 1940 |
2 March
1942 |
| Biter |
Sun Shipbuilding |
18 December 1940 |
1 May 1942 |
| Dasher |
Sun Shipbuilding |
12 April 1941 |
1 July 1942 |
These ships were basically similar to Archer,
but differed sufficiently to be regarded as a separate class. All
were converted in the USA from mercantile hulls.
When Avenger and Biter first arrived in the UK they
went immediately into dockyard hands to have their flight-decks
lengthened by 42 feet to allow Swordfish aircraft to take off
with a full load of weapons and fuel.
A fourth ship, Charger, was retained in the US after
completion and used for training Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm pilots.
| Dimensions |
Net displacement |
8,200 tons |
Length |
492’3" |
| Gross
displacement |
14,500 tons |
Beam |
69’6" |
| Load |
6,300 tons |
Draught |
25’ |
| Flight Deck
Details |
| Flight Deck
Length |
c. 480’ |
Upper Hangar
Length |
- |
Lifts |
1 |
| Flight Deck Width |
c. 70’ |
Lower Hangar
Length |
- |
Catapults |
- |
| Performance &
Propulsion |
| Range |
? |
Speed |
16 knots |
| Propulsion |
2 x
diesels @ 5200 hp , 1 shaft |
| Armament,
Aircraft & Complement |
| Complement |
555
Officers & Ratings including Air Group |
| Armament |
- Gun
- 3 x 1 x 4"/50-cal
HA/LA
- 4 x 2 x 20mm
- 7 x 1 x 20mm
|
Aircraft |
- 15 planes
- 12 x Swordfish ASW patrol
/ T.B's
- 3 x Martlet fighters
|
| Service Histories |
| Avenger |
- Convoy PQ-18 to Russia Sep. 1942 -
aircraft sank U.589 on 14 Sep. with assistance
from destroyer Faulknor
- supported North African landings
Nov. 1942
- torpedoed and sunk west of
Gibraltar by U.155
|
| Biter |
- Supported North African landings
Nov. 1942
- modifications to aviation fuel
system Dec. 1942-Feb. 1943
- Atlantic convoy escort Mar.
1943-Aug. 1944 - aircraft assisted in sinking
U.203 on 25 Apr. 1943 and U.89 on 12 May 1943
- returned to USN 9 Apr. 1945 and
immediately transferred to France as Dixmude.
|
| Dasher |
- Supported North African landings
Nov. 1942
- destroyed by accidental aviation
fuel explosion in the Clyde 27 Mar. 1943.
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