A History of HMS BEGUM

Two US maritime Commission hulls were earmarked for transfer to the Royal Navy after conversion into escort carriers with the ships' name 'BEGUM':

BEGUM (1)

CVE-62 – ordered from Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Vancouver, Washington, her keel was laid down on January 17th 1943, Kaiser hull no. 308, Maritime Commission no. 1099, a type S4-S2-BB3 hull. She was the eighth of fifty Casablanca class auxiliary aircraft carriers ordered and the fourth intended for transfer to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements as the HMS CHASTISER (later changed to BEGUM).

However, on January 22nd 1943 the US Navy decided that she, and the other escort carriers building for Britain at that time, AMEER, ATHELING, EMPEROR, and KHEDIVE, were required for the US war effort and would be retained. ACV-62 was launched on July 20th 1943 by her sponsor was Lady Halifax, wife of the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States., and was delivered to the U. S. Navy on October 14th 1943 and commissioned the USS NATOMA BAY, CVE-62. Captain Harold L. Meadow in command.

BEGUM (2)

As an alternative to the Casablanca class escort carriers the admiralty were offered a second batch of 23 BOGUE class ships building at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. yard in Tacoma, Washington. These were Maritime Commission C3-S-A1 type 9,800 ton freighter hulls being constructed for completion as auxiliary aircraft carriers.

The second auxiliary aircraft carrier earmarked to be named HMS BEGUM began her career as the USS BOLINAS CVE-36, a Bogue class escort carrier, her keel being laid down 3 Aug 1942 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington. She was launched 11 Nov 1942 by her sponsor, by Mrs. G.B. Sherwood, wife of Commander Sherwood USN. Her hull was then towed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton Washington for completion.

CVE-36 commissioned into the US Navy on July 22nd 1943 as the USS BOLINAS Captain H.L. Meadow USN in command. The USS Bolinas was to remain at the Puget Sound Navy Yard until August 1st when she proceeded to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was decommissioned in preparation for her transfer to the UK government under the Lend-Lease agreement. On August 2nd, CVE-36 was officially transferred to the Royal Navy at Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd's facility at Lapointe Pier North Vancouver. She was commissioned as HMS BEGUM (D38) on the same day, Captain J.E. Broome RN in command.

Modification and preparation to enter service: August - December 1943

BEGUM spent the next two weeks putting her air department and squadron through their paces, this wasn't without mishap however 832 suffered three flying accidents on June 1st; Avenger FN92 ('4A'), flown by Lt FKA Low, struck the rounddown, and broke its back, Avenger JZ231 ('4Q') flown by Sub Lt JE Randall hit the barrier landing on, and Sub Lt GO Smith RNZN flying Wildcat JV585 hit the rounddown and skidded over side into the sea, he was rescued by the plane guard vessel. On Thursday, July 6th a crew member Able Seaman, P/JX 184827 Jacob A, Branton died on board, the circumstances of his death are not known.

HMS BEGUM sailed for the first of five operations in the Indian Ocean during 1944 on June 11th. She re-embarked her aircraft on the 14th to begin anti-submarine sweeps in the Bay of Bengal, returning to Colombo on July 2nd, her aircraft flying ashore to RNAS Colombo Racecourse. Squadron losses for this period was one aircraft; Avenger JZI80 ('4B') flown by Sub Lt J Swift suffered a total loss of oil pressure and made a forced landing into the sea on June 22nd, the pilot and crew were safely recovered.

Her second sweep was a short one, re-embarking her aircraft on July 23rd, returning on the 30th, this time the squadron disembarked to RNAS Katukurunda. On her arrival back At Trincomalee BEGUM was allocated to join Task Force 66, a trade protection force operating in the northern Indian Ocean. TF66 comprised of CVEs BEGUM and SHAH, Frigates FINDHORN, INVER, LOSSIE and PARRET, Indian Sloops GODAVERI, and SUTLEJ.

832 were re-embarked on August 3rd for BEGUM's third sweep; this time operating with elements of TF66 to search for a U-Boat, U-198, that had been attacking shipping of the East African coast; on August 6th the MV EMPIRE CITY, a 7,295-ton cargo vessel was torpedoed and sunk east of Mocimboa, Portuguese East Africa. The following day the MV EMPIRE DAY a 7,242 ton cargo vessel was torpedoed and sunk about 200 miles east of Dar es Salaam. Both vessels were en route from Lourenco Marques, Mozambique, to Aden & Port Said with a cargo of coal sailing with convoy DKA-21 which scattered dispersed after the initial attack. On August 10th Avengers from SHAH spotted German submarine U-198 near the Seychelles. On the 12th Avengers from SHAH's 851 and BEGUM's 832 squadrons attacked the submarine but reported no damage seen. They then directed the frigate HMS FINDHORN and the Indian sloop HMIS GODAVARI to its location, the U-Boat was later sunk by 'hedgehog' attacks. Following this action TF66 proceeded to Kilindini, Kenya on the 18th to fuel and store ship in preparation for escorting a convoy KM.5 between Kilindini and Aden which sailed on the 27th.

BEGUM's squadron was down by 4 aircraft by the end of August, three aircraft bounced over the arrestor wires and flew into the  barrier; two Avengers, FN926 (on the 12th) andFN923 (on the 15th) , and Wildcat JV507 (on the 9th), a third Avenger JZ231 ('4Q') was lost when it stalled on take off and dove into the sea on the 28th, all crew were recovered safely.

Operations continued in the Bay of Bengal until early October when BEGUM returned to Colombo, her aircraft were disembarked to RNAS Katukurundaon the 12th. After a short stay in harbour to store ship and refuel she was ready to put to sea again by October 20th and her squadron flew out to rejoin the ship on the 21st. During this sweep BEGUM was sent to investigate a submarine sighting made by an RAF aircraft but was forced to return to port on the 28th when her catapult failed before any aircraft could be launched to investigate. Subsequent searches conducted by Force 66 failed to locate the sub. On Wednesday, November 1st 1944 one of 832 squadron's pilots was lost, Sub Lt (A), Ronald E, Pritchard, RNVR flying in Wildcat JV592 hit the sea and his aircraft sank.

On rejoining TF.66 BEGUM and SHAH took part in the search for the Japanese submarine RO-113 which had torpedoed and sank the 3,827 ton British freighter SS MARION MOLLER at 10-40N, 81-10E on November 5th 1944. The sub was hunted by the destroyers HMS QUALITY, QUADRANT and ROEBUCK which were the first naval forces to arrive on the scene. Despite several days of searching by surface and air there was no sign of the sub which had returned to its base in Penang.

HMS BEGUM arrived back at Colombo on November 26th to store and replenish ship before resuming trade protection sweeps, Three days earlier the Eastern Fleet had been disbanded and two new fleets, the East Indies Fleet, and the British Pacific Fleet were brought into being on November 23rd at Trincomalee. HMS BEGUM was issued a new, buy temporary, pennant number 'R305' the change was necessary to allow for integration with US task groups in the Indian Ocean and Pacific theatres; it is unclear if this number was ever applied.

BEGUM suffered accelerator failure again on December 6th when attempting to launch Avenger FN938 ('4R') but was repaired by the ships engineers without the need for a return to port. On completion of her final sweep BEGUM disembarked 832 squadron to RNAS Colombo Racecourse on December 22nd. She had been allocated for refit in the UK and conversion to a ferry carrier and was to ferry 832 squadron on her voyage home. After spending Christmas of 1944 in Ceylon BEGUM received orders to sail for the UK on January 16th 1945. She was to carry passengers for passage, including the aircrew and maintenance personnel of 832 squadron.

Return to UK and conversion to Ferry Carrier: January - April 1945

The aircraft of 832 squadron flew aboard on Monday, January 15th 1945 and HMS BEGUM sailed from Colombo the following day as part of the escort for Convoy JA.2 which arrived at Aden on Monday, 22 January. After refuelling BEGUM entered the Red Sea and proceeded to Port Taufiq to await her passage through the Suez Canal. BEGUM reached Gibraltar in early February and joined the UK bound convoy MKF.39 bound for Liverpool. The convoy sailed on February 14th and on reaching the safety of Western approaches command BEGUM left the convoy and proceeded directly to the Clyde, arriving on the 20th to unload prior to beginning her conversion work. Her squadron was disbanded on disembarking the following day and was not to reform.

On March 26th Captain C.L. Howe RN relived Captain Broome as commanding officer, he took HMS BEGUM to sea for the first time when she undertook her post refit/conversion shake down in the Irish Sea in early April. BEGUM left the Clyde and sailed to RNAMY Belfast on April 16th to embark her ferry load. She embarked the equipment, stores, aircraft, and personnel of 721 Fleet Requirements Unit (6 Vengeance TT.IV) and 1701 Air Sea Rescue squadron (6 Sea Otter); aircraft were hoisted aboard on April 17th, and BEGUM sailed later the same day to join convoy KMF.43. The convoy had sailed from the Clyde, and reached Gibraltar on the 23rd.

Ferry duty with the British Pacific Fleet: April - June 1945

While in refit BEGUM was allocated to the British Pacific Fleet for duties as a ferry carrier. She had been allocated a temporary pennant number R305 in late November for service with the EIF and was to retain this for her duties in the Pacific with the BPF, the change being made to allow for integration with US task groups in these theatres; it is unclear if this number was never applied.

On reaching Gibraltar BEGUM left the convoy and made independent passage to Port Said. On leaving the Suez Canal BEGUM continued on to Colombo where she took on fuel and stored ship before sailing for the Admiralty Islands. She arrived off the Island of Ponam on May 27th and anchored overnight. The next day 721 FRU and 'B' Flight of 1701 ASR squadron were put ashore to RNAS Ponam; this was a slow process because all aircraft had to be off loaded by lighter, the tropical island having an encompassing coral reef which prevented the carriers from tying up to a jetty. On completion of the unloading BEGUM sailed for Sydney, arriving there on June 5th to unload 'A' Flight 1701 ASR squadron. The flight was destined for RNAS Maryborough, in Queensland. Her ferry run completed BEGUM reloaded with a cargo of replacement airframes and stores for delivery to Manus in the Admiralty Islands; the airframes were off loaded to RNAS Ponam on June 15th. Once unloaded her spell as a ferry carrier was completed and she was reallocated to join the EIF as a Deck Landing Training (DLT) Carrier, and sailed for Trincomalee.

East Indies Fleet Deck Landing Training Carrier: July - October 1945

In this new role her duties involved providing a deck for the pilots of 757 Naval Operational Training Squadron from RNAS Tambaram. She was on station and operating in this role by July 1st when Hellcat JZ810 piloted by Lt. W.J. Lowell went over the side during a DLT session. Training was carried out flying all of the frontline aircraft types operated by the EIF and BPF, in particular Hellcats, Avengers, Corsairs, and Seafires. There were three other mishaps in her first month of training, a second Hellcat suffered minor damage when drifting off the centre line and hitting a light pole, a Corsair did the same but ran into the Deck Landing Control Officers screen, Also, a visiting Seafire from the Station Flight at RNAS Trincomalee struck the round down and was later off loaded on return to Trincomalee for repair.

At the end of August HMS BEGUM was one of seven escort carriers allocated to the attacking forces for operation ZIPPER. EMPEROR EMPRESS and KHEDIVE were to form part of Force 64, with ATTACKER, HUNTER, and STALKER forming Task force 65; BEGUM was a reserve carrier and would provide a spare deck for the carriers of Task Force 65. However on September 4th while proceeding out of Trincomalee harbour she struck a submerged object and suffered serious damage to her hull. The collision caused fuel to leak from the hull damage and she returned to port under her own steam. There was a delay in getting repairs started because there was no dry dock available and she was withdrawn from Operation ZIPPER. The repair was only a temporary one however and she had to sail to Bombay for dockyard repairs to be carried out.

BEGUM was to play no further role in operations with the EIF and was earmarked for early return to the U.S. Navy. She was ordered to prepare for her return to the UK on completion of her repairs to be decommissioned.

Stand down: October 1945

By the third week of October HMS BEGUM was preparing to leave Bombay, on the 22nd she embarked passengers, including d 280 Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery - DEMS gunners. They were from the merchant ships carrying troops, stores and war materiel for Operation ZIPPER; after they had unloaded their cargoes on the Malayan coast these ships disembarked their gunners at Madras. The gunners travelled by train between 8th and11th October to the Kalyan Transit Camp near Bombay and embarked on BEGUM for passage home.

BEGUM sailed from Bombay at 1pm the 23rd; she passed Aden on 27th October on route to the Suez Canal and arrived at the Clyde on November 10th. Once secured the majority of her ships company and passengers left the ship, her complement being reduced to a steaming crew and working parties. During November she was de-ammunitioned and de-stored, much of her Admiralty equipment was removed in preparation for returning her to US custody.

HMS BEGUM left the Clyde on December 11th and preceded to Portsmouth to complete de-storing, and then on to Southampton to embark US troops for passage to Norfolk, Virginia, on 13th December, she sailed from the UK for the final time later that day.

Disposal: return to US custody February 1946

The Atlantic crossing was marred by heavy weather and rough seas which were strong enough to cause the forward part of the Flight Deck come adrift. Makeshift repairs were made to enable passage to be continued and she arrived at US Naval Base Norfolk on December 25th. She was decommissioned as an RN ship and CVE-36 was returned to US Navy custody on January 4th 1946.

CVE-36 was stricken for disposal June 19th 1946 and was sold into merchant service with the Netherlands Steamship Co. on April 16th 1947 as RAKI. In 1966 sold to Monrovia and renamed I-YUNG. She was scrapped in Taiwan starting in March 1974.

Note on order of events:

BEGUM's allocation as a reserve carrier for Operation ZIPPER throws up some confusion over dates. The three carrier of Task group 65 put to sea on August 4th so the assumption would be that BEGUM also sailed on this date, if so her collision with a submerged object must have been while putting to sea on that date. However, there is a record of a Seafire from 757 squadron making a heavy landing on BEGUM on August 24th - had she been to Bombay, been repaired and returned or was the reference to ZIPPER referring to the later, amended operation in early September? Another account has BEGUM sailing for Greenock directly from Bombay on completion of repairs on October 23rd - she did sail from there on that date but was this just after leaving a Bombay dockyard?

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