Ruler class Escort Carrier
 
This page written by Bruce T. Swain
 
Name Pennant Builder Laid Down Launched Transferred Commisioned
Ameer D-01 Seattle-Tacoma 18 Jul. '42 18 Oct. ’42 19 Jul. ’43 20 July 1943
Arbiter D-31 Seattle-Tacoma 26 Apr. ’43 9 Sep. ’43 31 Dec. ’43 31 December 1943
Atheling D-51 Puget Sound Navy Yard 9 Jun. ’42 7 Sep. ’42 31 Jul. ’43 31 July 1943
Begum D-38 Seattle-Tacoma 3 Aug. ’42 11 Nov. ’42 22 Jul. ’43 2 August 1943
Emperor D-98 Seattle-Tacoma 23 Jun. ’42 7 Oct ’42 31 May ’43 6 August 1943
Empress D-42 Seattle-Tacoma 9 Sep. ’42 30 Dec. ’42 8 Jun. ’43 9 August 1943
Khedive D-62 Seattle-Tacoma 30 Dec. ’42 30 Jan. ’43 6 Aug. ’43 25 August 1943
Nabob D-77 Seattle-Tacoma 20 Oct. ’42 22 Mar. ’43 7 Sep. ’43 7 September 1943
Patroller D-07 Seattle-Tacoma 27 Nov. ’42 6 May ’43 22 Oct. ’43 25 October 1943
Premier D-23 Seattle-Tacoma 31 Oct. ’42 22 Mar. ’43 3 Nov. ’43 3 November 1943
Puncher D-79 Seattle-Tacoma 21 May ’43 8 Nov. ’43 5 Feb. ’44 2 May 1943
Queen D-19 Seattle-Tacoma 12 Mar. ’43 2 Aug. ’43 7 Dec. ’43 7 December 1943
Rajah D-10 Seattle-Tacoma 17 Dec. ’42 18 May ’43 17 Jan. ’44 17 January 1944
Ranee D-03 Seattle-Tacoma 5 Jan. ’43 2 Jun. ’43 8 Nov. ’43 8 November 1943
Reaper D-62 Seattle-Tacoma 5 Jun. ’43 22 Nov. ’43 18 Feb. ’44 21 February 1944
Ruler D-72 Seattle-Tacoma 25 Mar. ’43 21 Aug. ’43 22 Dec. ’43 22 December 1943
Shah D-21 Seattle-Tacoma 13 Nov. ’42 21 Apr. ’43 27 Sep. ’43 27 September 1943
Slinger D-26 Seattle-Tacoma 25 May 42 19 Sep. ’42 11 Aug.’43 11 August 1943
Smiter D-55 Seattle-Tacoma 10 May ’43 27 Sep. ’43 20 Jan. ’44 20 January 1944
Speaker D-90 Seattle-Tacoma 9 Oct. ’42 20 Feb. ’43 20 Nov. ’43 20 November 1943
Thane D-48 Seattle-Tacoma 22 Feb. ’43 15 Jul. ’43 19 Nov. ’43 19 November 1943
Trouncer D-85 Commercial Iron Works 1 Jan. ’43 17 Jun. ’43 31 Jan. ’44 31 January 1944
Trumpeter D-09 Commercial Iron Works 25 Aug. ’42 15 Dec. ’42 4 Aug. ’43 4 August 1943

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.

Dimensions Net displacement 8,333 tons Length 496’
Gross displacement 14,000 tons Beam 69’6"
Load 5667 tons Draught 23’3"

 

Flight Deck Details
Flight Deck Length 470’ approx Upper Hangar Length ? Lifts 1
Flight Deck Width 70’ approx Lower Hangar Length - Catapults -

 

Performance & Propulsion
Range ? Speed 18 knots
Propulsion 2 x Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 x Westinghouse geared turbines @ 8500 shp, 1 shaft

 

Armament, Aircraft & Complement
Complement 646 Officers & Ratings including Air Group?
Armament
  • Gun
    • 2 x 1 x 5"/38-cal DP
    • 8 x 2 x 40mm AA
    • 27-35 x 1 x 20mm AA
       
Air Groups
As Convoy Escort
  • 18 -24 planes
    • 14-20 x Swordfish/Avenger ASW / T.B's
    • 4 x Martlet fighters
As Fighter Carrier
  • 20-24 x Martlet fighters
 
Service Histories
Ameer
  • Fighter Carrier
  • supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya 1945
  • returned to USN 17 Jan. 1946
Arbiter
  • Fighter Carrier and auxiliary oiler
  • returned to USN 3 Mar. 1946
Atheling
  • Convoy escort then fighter carrier
  • returned to USN 13 Dec. 1946
Begum
  • Convoy escort then general purpose carrier
  • supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya 1945
  • returned to USN 4 Jan. 1946
Emperor
  • Fighter carrier 1943-44- provided cover for strike aircraft during Operation "Tungsten" 3 Apr. 1944
  • assault carrier 1944-45
  • returned to USN 4 Feb. 1946
Empress
  • Assault carrier and fighter carrier
  • supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya 1945
  • returned to USN 4 Feb. 1946
Khedive
  • Fighter carrier then assault carrier
  • returned to USN 26 Jan. 1946
Nabob
  • Arctic convoy escort
  • torpedoed by U-boat in Barents Sea 22 Aug. 1944, survived
  • deemed beyond economical repair and decommissioned 10 Oct. 1944
  • returned to USN 16 Mar. 1946
Patroller
  • Used mainly for training
  • returned to USN 13 dec. 1946
Premier
  • Convoy escort
  • returned to USN 2 Apr. 1946
Puncher
  • Manned by RCN
  • convoy escort
  • returned to USN 16 Jan. 1946
Queen
  • Convoy escort
  • shared sinking of U.711 with aircraft from Trumpeter on 4 May 1945
  • returned to USN 31 Oct. 1946
Rajah
  • General purpose carrier
  • returned to USN 13 Dec. 1946
Ranee
  • Assault carrier
  • supported landings in Southern France
  • returned to USN 21 Nov. 1946
Reaper
  • Convoy escort and training
  • returned to USN 20 may 1946
Ruler
  • Operated as an auxiliary oiler with Fleet Train in British Pacific Fleet
  • returned to USN 29 Jan. 1946
Shah
  • Convoy escort and fighter carrier
  • supported Eastern Fleet operations against Burma and Malaya 1945
  • returned to USN 6 dec. 1945
Slinger
  • Assault carrier then escort carrier
  • served with British Pacific Fleet as escort for Fleet Train 1945
  • returned to USN 27 Feb. 1946
Smiter
  • Convoy escort
  • returned to USN 6 Apr. 1946
Speaker
  • Convoy and fleet escort
  • served with British Pacific Fleet as escort for Fleet Train 1945; returned to USN 17 Jul. 1946
Thane
  • Convoy escort
  • torpedoed by U-boat 15 Jan. 1945, survived
  • deemed beyond economical repair
  • returned to USN 15 Dec. 1945
Trouncer
  • Convoy escort
  • returned to USN 3 Mar. 1946
Trumpeter
  • Convoy escort
  • aircraft shared sinking of U.711 with aircraft from Queen on 4 May 1945
  • returned to USN 6 Apr. 1946
   
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