The British Pacific and East Indies Fleets

HMS UNICORN at anchor off Pityilu Island, C. July 1945

History

The design that would result in HMS UNICORN was conceived to meet the afloat support facilities requirements of the Royal Navy in the late 1930s needed to allow sustained operations by its armoured fleet carriers. The proposals for meeting these needs included assembling a collection of repair, maintenance and depot ships that could follow the fleet (the very concept that became the Fleet Train created for the British Pacific Fleet in late 1944). UNICORN was a compromise, one ship performing many roles.

She was the first purpose-built carrier for the Royal Navy which could fulfil the aviation afloat support role; she was a fully functioning Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier equipped to operate aircraft in combat, she was also outfitted as an aircraft Repair and Maintenance vessel and could operate as an aircraft Ferry Carrier and Heavy Transport. She was designed with spacious double hangars with 16ft 6in hangar heights intended to accommodate any type of aircraft in use by the RN at the time. Reserve aircraft were to be stuck-down into the lower hangar (360ft by 62ft), while the upper hangar (324ft by 65ft) would be the maintenance and repair area. Both hangars could be accessed at the stern enabling UNICORN to even service floatplanes.

UNICORN was ordered from Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 14th 1939 and her keel was laid down on June 29th 1939. She was launched on November 20th 1941 by her sponsor Lady Mabel MacNaughton. Work on the ship was delayed by resources and manpower being diverted to more priority builds and this led to the decision to complete her as an operational carrier first and complete her outfitting as repair carrier later. She was commissioned as HMS UNICORN on January 14th 1943, Captain Q. D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN in command, she was the 14th RN ship to bear this name.
 

Working up and Flying trials

Sea trials were completed in early March and her build was completed on the 12th, she next sailed to begin working up in the firth of Clyde. On March 24th she began flying trials in the Irish Sea embarking three squadrons from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Machrihanish; 800 NAS (18 Sea Hurricane IIc), 818 (9 Swordfish II), and 824 (6 Swordfish II). Two days later the first deck crash occurred when Swordfish DK686 of 824 squadron, piloted by Sub-Lt D. A. Davis RNVR, made a fast landing, missed all the arrestor wires and entered the barrier. A swordfish from 818 was damaged landing on April 14th, Sub-Lt J. M. Reid-Henry RNVR in DK750 struck the after pom-pom causing wing and tailplane damage. On the 28th HS226 of 824 squadron, flown by Sub-Lt J. C. H. Simpson RNVR suffered one of the most common swordfish landing incidents when its undercarriage collapsed.

The Sea Hurricanes of 800 squadron departed for RNAS Donibristle on April 16th after an uneventful three weeks onboard, their place was to be taken by 887 operating 9 Safire L. II. This squadron had been visiting the ship from as early as April 9th when Sub-Lt H. A. Foote RNZNVR flying in Seafire MB293 crashed when his undercarriage collapsed on landing. Other pilots carried out Deck Landing Training (DLT) sorties over the next week, Sub-Lt P. H. Knowler RNVR made a bad landing in MA989 on the 16th, ending up with the undercarriage legs in the Port nets, the aircraft nose out over the sea. The entire squadron flew out to join the ship on April 19th.

The ship continued to work up with 818 (9 Swordfish II) 824 (6 Swordfish II) and 887 (9 Seafire L.IIc) in preparation for her first operational outing in Mid-May. On May 10th UNICORN conducted exercises with the Fleet Carriers INDEFATIGABLE and FURIOUS in the Irish Sea. 887 pilots had another five flying incidents during this period; on April 30th Sub-Lt Foote stalled MB266 over the deck after a low approach trying to go round again, writing off the aircraft. On May 4th Sub-Lt R. D. Viney RNVR in MA989 floated over all the arrestor wires, but caught the trickle wire which caused the arrestor hook to be pulled out. Sub-Lt Knowler made a barrier crash in NM914 after missing all the arrestor wires on the 6th, and Sub-Lt W. J. F. Beever RNVR flying in MB279 made a heavy landing resulting in damage to his aircraft. There were two incidents involving 824; on May 4th Swordfish HS214 flown by Sub-Lt S. W. Taylor RNVR swerved into the island while landing., and the following day Sub-Lt I. C. H. Simpson RNVR made a heavy landing in HS216 causing the starboard undercarriage to collapse. 824 squadron left the ship on May 13th, disembarking to RNAS Machrihanish.

HMS UNICORN at sea with Seafires and Swordfish embarked for flying training.

Ferry voyage to Gibraltar May 19th – June 4th 1943

Her work-up compete HMS UNICORN was allocated to act as a ferry carrier for her first operational voyage. She was to embark 18 RAF Beaufighters for delivery to Gibraltar. UNICORN sailed from the Clyde on May 19th 1943 as part of the escort for the combined convoy KMF.15 (for Algiers)/WS.30 (for Freetown); the two convoys were to split off at Gibraltar for their respective destinations.

The disassembled Beaufighters f were stowed below to permit flying operations on passage; Swordfish from 818 squadron operated anti-submarine patrols while Seafires from 887 were launched to intercept German snoopers. Only one snooper approached the convoy on the 25th, Sub-Lt Knowler in NM917 intercepted a Fw200, scoring a few hits but his cannon jammed after firing only 5 rounds. The convoys spilt off Gibraltar and UNICORN entered harbour on the 26th to off load her cargo of Beaufighters. She sailed again on May 30th and joined the escorting force for the return convoy MKF.15, detaching from the convoy on reaching the Western Approaches on June 4th without any incident.
 

Flying training continues June - July1943

UNICORN resumed training in the Irish Sea on release from convoy duty, this included night DLT sessions for 818 squadron on June 8th. During this session Sub-Lt H. L. Taylor RNVR made a heavy landing in HS346 and Sub-Lt H. van Staveren RNZNVR suffered engine failure in HS543 and ditched, he was safely rescued. On the 16th Sub-Lt S. F. Such RNVR struck the rounddown landing in Swordfish HS549. The Seafires of 887 remained aboard until June 18th when they flew ashore to RNAS Belfast. In the two weeks prior to this, two aircraft were lost overboard; MB262 (Sub-Lt A. D. Hawkins-King RNVR) ran off the deck into the sea, and sank and MB271 (Sub-Lt W. G. Coleman RNZNVR) floated over all wires and went over the side, both pilots were OK. One heavy landing, MB130 (Sub-Lt Coleman), and two barrier crashes; MA975 (Sub-Lt I. T. Basley RNVR), and LR684 (Sub-Lt Coleman). Four aircraft from 818 were also put ashore to RNAS Belfast on June 28th when UNICORN entered a Belfast dockyard for repairs

She re-emerged on July 11th and she sailed for the Clyde to begin a post repair work-up, embarking her squadrons once at se. The next day Sub-Lt Coleman hit a pom-pom mount with his starboard wing tip after catching a wire in Seafire MB265 and Sub-Lt Such had to return to the ship in Swordfish DK704 with engine trouble.

The ships’ first aircrew fatality occurred on July 15th when Sub-Lt J.A. F. Lawrance RNVR, the observer in Swordfish HS546 was thrown out of the cockpit by turbulence. He had unfastened his safety strap in rough weather near Ailsa Craig during a navex from UNICORN; he was never found. The pilot Sub-Lt Taylor and P.O. Airman C. Coles landed safely. On the 21st Sub-Lt Viney floated Seafire MA987 into the barrier.
 

Operations with the Home Fleet July 1943

On July 22nd UNICORN sailed for Scapa Flow in company with the Cruiser MALAYA to operate with the Home Fleet. The ships arrived at Scapa at 18:00 on the 23rd and the carrier began preparations to participate in the up-coming operation GOVERNOR.

Operation GOVERNOR was an attempt to lure TIRPITZ and other German heavy battleships out of harbour by simulating a raid on southern Norway. Admiralty knowledge of German reconnaissance flights was vital since they needed the forces to be spotted and reported. The operation employed five separate forces. Force A: Battleships HMS ANSON and USS ALABAMA, carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, destroyers MILNE, MUSKETEER, METEOR, and MAHRATTA, USS RODMAN, MACOMB, EMMONS, and FITCH; Force B: Battleships DUKE OF YORK and USS SOUTH DAKOTA, carrier UNICORN, cruiser BERMUDA, destroyers ONSLOW, OBDURATE, OBEDIENT, ULSTER, GRENVILLE, MATCHLESS, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, and IMPULSIVE; Force C: (representing a convoy), destroyers SAVAGE and RIPLEY, trawlers SKY, SWITHA, CEDAR, LARCH, OAK, WILLOW, HAWTHORNE, and LILAC, MLs 252, 286, 442, 473, and 445, LCI (L) 167; Force D: Cruiser BELFAST , destroyers ORWELL and ORIBI; Force E: Cruisers LONDON, KENT, and NORFOLK.

Force ‘A’ sailed from Hvalfiord on the 26th to take up position; Force ‘B’ & ‘D’ sailed from Scapa at 16:00, and Force ‘E’ from Hvalfiord, on July 27th. Force ‘C’ sailed from Sullom Voe on July 27th to make a run as a dummy convoy, arriving back at Sullom Voe on the 29th. The Operation was carried out according to plan and was considered to have been successful. Only one force (Force ‘D’) was shadowed for certain but four BV 138 aircraft were shot down during the operations, two by Martlets from ILLUSTRIOUS and two by Beaufighters from RAF 18 Group; no German battleships were tempted out. 887 saw no action during this operation, UNICORN withdrew to Scapa with Force ‘B’ on the 29th. She sailed for the Clyde the following day escorted by SCORPION and GRENVILLE, arriving on the 31st.
 

Detached to the Mediterranean & operation AVALANCHE August - October 1943

UNICORN was now allocated to participate in the Allied landings near the port of Salerno, part of the Allied invasion of Italy. On her arrival back on the Clyde she immediately began a DLT session for pilots from 809 squadron flying out from RNAS Machrihanish. The session resulted in two barrier crashes resulting from the aircraft floating over all the arrestor wires; Seafire NX919 flown by Lt. C. Walker RNVR and NX953 flown by Sub-Lt R. D. Wood RNVR, the later aircraft being a write-off. On returning to the Clyde preparations began for departure for the Mediterranean.

For operation AVALANCHE she embarked two additional Seafire squadrons from RNAS Machrihanish; 897 flying out on the 4th and 809 on the 7th, each with 10 aircraft making a total of 30 Seafire IIcs/L.IIcs and 9 Swordfish embarked. Also embarked at the same time as 809 was No.2 Carrier Borne Air Liaison Section, (2 CBALS) [1] a part of the Army's No.12 Air liaison Section; this small 5-man unit comprised of a Captain, a Sergeant and 3 clerks from the Royal Army Signals Corps, under the command of Major Richard Pegler RA. This was the second unit of its kind to operate with a FAA squadron and a carrier No.1 CBALS was trained with 879 squadron and on boars ATTACKER. This new unit was attached to 809 squadron during army co-operation training at RAF Andover which started on July 13th before moving to RNAS Machrihanish on the 28th. The squadron, embarked on August 7th together with 2 CBALS for sea borne experience.

DLT sessions continued until the 12th, Sub-Lt Coleman of 809 squadron made a heavy landing in NM971 on August 5th causing the fuselage to buckle. Sub-Lt Viney of 887 squadron caused some serious damage on the 6th when his aircraft Seafire LR684 bounced over the barrier and landed on several aircraft parked forward.

UNICORN sailed from the Clyde at 06:00 on August 13th in company with ILLUSTRIOUS and the A.A. Cruiser SCYLLA escorted by the Destroyers OPPORTUNE, OBDURATE, OBEDIENT, SAVAGE, and SCORPION for passage to Gibraltar. The group arrived at Gibraltar on the 17th for duty with the Mediterranean Fleet.

UNICORN was to form part of Force 'V' which comprised UNICORN, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ATTACKER, BATTLER, HUNTER, STALKER, Cruisers EURYALUS, SCYLLA and CHARYBDIS, Destroyers CLEVELAND, HOLCOMBE, ATHERSTONE, LIDDESDALE, FARNDALE, CALPE, and Polish destroyers ORP SLAZAK and ORP KRAKOWIAK. A second force, Force "H" comprised the Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT, Fleet Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS (878 Sqn - 14 Martlet IV, 890 Sqn -14Martlet IV, and 894 Sqn -10 Seafire IIc) and FORMIDABLE (885 Sqn - 5 Seafire IIc, 88 Sqn - 16 Martlet IV, 893 Sqn - 16 Martlet IV , and 820 Sqn – 12 Albacore) and a screen of 21 destroyers including French, Polish and Greek warships, this was a covering force for the landings, intended to prevent any interference by Italian surface warships. On the eve of operation AVALANCHE Italy surrendered so the threat had passed, however there was a strong German force in the area.

At Gibraltar the squadrons spent nearly three weeks conducting flying training and exercising with the ship in preparation for the operation. Five flying incidents are recorded during this period; on August 26th Sub-Lt A. B. Foley RNZNVR of 897 squadron made a heavy landing in Seafire MB305 causing the tail oleo to collapse and wrinkle the fuselage. On the 27th there were two for 887 squadron, Sub-Lt Foote smashed into the barrier in LR689 after the hook bounced, breaking the aircraft’s back, and Sub-Lt T. D. Lucey RNVR made a heavy landing in LR707. On the 29th two more 887 squadron aircraft were damaged; Sub-Lt Lucey missed all the arrestor wires and floated into the barrier landing in LR632, Sub-Lt Hawkins-King did the same landing in MB117.

On completion of training UNICORN preceded to Malta with other vessels for Force ‘V’  arriving at 07:00 on September 7th. Force ‘V’  sailed from Malta on September 8th and proceeded via the Straits of Messina to arrive on station 45 miles south-west of the beachhead early in the morning of September 9th. The carriers of Force ‘V’  operated only Seafire squadrons; ATTACKER (879 & 880 Sqns - 19 aircraft), , BATTLER (807 & 808 Sqns - 18 aircraft), HUNTER (834 Fighter flight & 899 Sqn - 20 aircraft), and STALKER (833 Fighter flight & 880 Sqn - 20 aircraft) UNICORN (809, 887, and 897 Sqns - 30 aircraft) making a total of 109 Seafires 11 squadrons. The five carriers were to provide fighter cover for the landings. It was intended that a constant presence of naval air cover would be maintained over the landing sites, up to 20 aircraft aloft at a time; the CVEs would carry out the patrols over the beachhead and UNICORN’s aircraft would provide top cover over the force. The first flights were launched at dawn on the 9th. At this time none of the four CVEs were equipped as fighter or assault carriers so fighter direction was provided by the Fighter Direction Ship HMS ULSTER QUEEN.

HMS UNICORN seen from the flight deck of BATTLER while at sea with Force ‘V’  for operation AVALANCHE.

Operation AVALANCHE Day 1 the first Serial of 6 Seafires was launched at 06:15 on September 9th. There were two fatalities during the first serial of the day, Sub-Lt M. A. McKenzie RNVR of 809 squadron was killed when his Seafire stalled landing on and crashed in to the sea astern, and Sub-Lt I. J. Urlich RNZNVR of 897 squadron died when he ran out of fuel and was forced to bale out over the sea and drowned. Two other Seafires were put out of action during the day, one aircraft from Serial 5 made a forced landing on the emergency strip on Salerno beach, the pilot was OK, but Seafire MB218 flown by Sub-Lt Coleman (809) was a complete write-off after making a flapless landing and crashing through the first barrier before being halted by the forward one This machine was jettisoned overboard to quickly clear the deck.

The only enemy contact during day 1 was at 11:50 on 9th September, Serial 6 comprising of six Seafires led by Lieuten¬ant D. F. V. Davies, RNVR, (897) was patrolling between Salerno and Montecorvino airfield at 18,000 feet when they spotted two Messerschmidt (Me) 109's to starboard. and 1,000 feet below. No.1 Section attacked out of the sun and both enemy aircraft jettisoned their overload tanks on sighting the Seafires. Lieutenant Davies carried out a quarter attack at long range on one aircraft which climbed steeply to port and then dived out of range. Je followed the aircraft down to 6,000 feet and then pulled out, his airspeed indicator was then reading over 400 knots. No. 2 of the Section, Sub-Lt L. T. Baker, RNVR, (897) attacked the second Me.109, opening fire at 400 yards and fired several short bursts. The enemy aircraft dived vertically down and the combat was broken off at 800 yards range. No damage to enemy aircraft was observed as a result of either of these engagements.

UNICORN was carrying a third more aircraft than her normal complement and having only one aircraft lift soon proved problematic for such an intense flying programme. Unserviceable aircraft had to be stowed in the hangars, but allowing access to serviceable ones; during the course of the afternoon on the 9th two serviceable aircraft became trapped in the after end of the lower hangar by damaged aircraft. These were cleared by ranging the whole tan from the lower hangar and restowing them between one fly-on and the next fly-off between 1435 and 1500. By the end of the first day, she had 20 serviceable aircraft, while 6 were under repair she had lost 4 and carried no onboard reserves. A small stock of reserve Seafires was held ashore at Castelvetrano, Sicily and squadron pilots would need to be flown to this airfield, by Swordfish, to recover spare machines.

Operation AVALANCHE Day 2 the first Serial of 6 Seafires was launched at 06:15, followed by a second at 07:15. At 08:00 the 6 Seafires (3 sections of 2, 7A & 7B from 897, and 6A from 887) of serial 2 lead by Lt. Cdr W. G. Simpson (897) were patrolling at 14,000 feet inland south of the river Sele. Sub-Lt A.D. Hawkins-King of 6A section spotted two ME109s and the section broke formation to pursue them. Sub-Lt Foote, section leader, saw Sub-Lt Hawkins-King get jumped by Me4109s; having seen two Me.109s pass his nose at fifty yards range, Sub-Lt Hawkins-King broke to starboard and then saw three more on his tail. When he recovered, he was heading north and joined up with 7A Section (Lt. Cdr W. G. Simpson RNVR & Sub-Lt J. A. F. Rankin RNVR). Shortly after joining up six Me.109's passed 6,000 feet below them and up to starboard; Lt. Cdr Simpson led his section in to attack aircraft on their Starboard while 6A section broke to Port to attack a single aircraft; Lt. Cdr Simpson attacked and destroyed 1 enemy aircraft which blew up in flight and damaged two others, one was seen spiralling to earth issuing thick black smoke, Sub-Lt Hawkins-King made a deflection attack on his target scoring several hits and the Me109 went down in a left hand spin from 5,000 feet, issuing glycol and oil smoke, and disappeared into cloud at 3,000 feet. This is the only enemy action involving 887 squadron during the operation.

Three Swordfish had taken off for Castelvetrano, Sicily at 06:55 carrying four pilots to collect spare Seafires. These landed on at 14:55 but only one of the 4 Seafires reached the ship. Due to poor visibility and poor vectoring by the Fighter Direction ship HMS PALOMARES. The one that reach UNICORN crashed on landing, one landed at Montecorvino airfield, another on the beach at Salerno. The fourth pilot, Sub-Lt B. Razzall RNVR (897) was killed, he drowned after baling out over the sea.

UNICORN also received several aircraft from other carriers during the day when a fouled deck prevented them from landing: 2 from STALKER at 14:40, 1 from HUNTER at 17:35, and 1 from  BATTLER at 18:15. The 2 from STALKER were able to re-join her by 16:00, the others remained on board requiring repairs.;

Operation AVALANCHE Day 3 the first Serial of 6 Seafires was launched at 06:15, but reduced to 4 from the usual 6. UNICORN could only muster 11 serviceable Seafires that morning, but 4 more were expected to be serviceable by Noon. The aircraft from  BATTLER and HUNTER departed in the early morning.

At 18:10 on 11th September, a section of three 879 squadron Seafires led by Lieutenant D. F. V. Davies, RNVR, patrolling over Salerno at 12,000 feet, saw 10 Me 109's jump eight Lightnings at 10,000 feet. Lieutenant Davies dove down on one Me 109, but it dived array very fast and he was unable to close to effective range. No. 3 Sub-Lt A. D. Perry RNVR, attacked another Me 109 and fired one burst at 300 yards from the port quarter. No. 2 Sub-Lt A. B. Foley RNVR, then attacked the same aircraft and fired a full deflection burst from the port quarter followed by four three-second bursts from astern at 500 yards' range. The enemy aircraft took no evasive action and continued in a steady dive until out of range, finally turning on his side. The aircraft was last seen in this attitude and emitting a considerable quantity of thick smoke, five miles north of Salerno. No strikes were observed, and it is considered that this aircraft was damaged only.

During the day 9 Seafires and 1 Martlet had landed on from other carriers, the first came from HUNTER at 07:35, this was followed by 3 from ATTACKER at 101:5 and 2 from STALKER at 10:20. A further 2 landed on from ATTACKER at 10:50. The first 5 these visitors departed at 11:45 three from ATTACKER, 2 to undertake a sortie, the other to return to the ship, and the 2 from STALKER also to return to the carrier. At 12:45 2 Seafires from HUNTER, one new arrival and one from the previous day departed for sorties. The remaining 2 aircraft from ATTACKER launched for sorties at 13:50. There were two new arrivals at 15:25, 1 Seafire from HUNTER and 1 Marled from FORMIDABLE. The aircraft from HUNTER departed at 16:00.

Reinforcements arrived onboard from Force "H” at 19:15, 6 Seafires and 8 Martlets from FORMIDABLE, and 2 Seafires from ILLUSTRIOUS. This was two more Martlets than had been expected, combined with the return of UNICORN’s aircraft from Montecorvino airfield there were five more aircraft on board than the Captain expected and overcrowding was severe.

Operation AVALANCHE Day 4 there were 20 Seafires and 8 Martlets serviceable at dawn and the first Serial of 6 Seafires was launched at 06:15, this time 8 Seafires took off for Top Cover and 4 Martlets for Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over Force “V”. Seafire sorties were halted at about 09:45 but Martlets continued to fly CAP sorties the last launching at 13:15.

It had been envisaged that one or more enemy airfields would be in allied hands by the end of the first day and so shore based air cover would take over, this was not the case; it was not until the third day that the airfield at Paestum was under Allied control that this became possible. At 13:45 on the 12th as many serviceable fighters as could be mustered were put ashore to operate at Paestum; ATTACKER managed 4,  BATTLER 5, HUNTER 5, and STALKER only 2, UNICORN supplied 10, six of them belonging to 997 squadron. Aircraft attrition was high; UNICORN's Seafires flew 75 sorties on the first day of operations and 60 on the second, but the Seafire was not well suited to carrier landings in low wind conditions, and many were damaged in landing accidents. 44 sorties were flown on the 11th and only 20 on the 12th; UNICORN's mechanics had managed to repair ten Seafires over the previous night.

At approximately 18:30 on the 12th Force “V” left the operational area and proceeded to Palermo arriving at 20:00. At 06:00 on the following morning the Force sailed for Bizerta, arriving there at 19:00.

Operation AVALANCHE Day 8 - 12 The carriers were back on station by the 16th and the detached aircraft were recovered. During the four days on station the carriers, which all flew Seafires, launched a combined total of 713 sorties, providing more than half the allied air coverage over the beach head, UNICORN’s squadrons flew 198 sorties. No RN aircraft were lost to enemy action but 4 were lost through engine failure and 32 were written off in deck landing accidents.

Force 'V' was to disband on September 20th and UNICORN, ILLUSTRIOUS and FORMIDABLE sailed for Gibraltar. While on passage Sub-Lt D. S. Ogle RNVR of 8089 squadron hit the rounddown in Seafire MB263, the aircraft floated over all the wires and entered the barrier.
 

Return to the UK for completion as a repair and maintenance carrier October - November 1943

On October 5th UNICORN with ILLUSTRIOUS, FORMIDABLE, and the battleship VALIANT escorted by destroyers ONSLOW, MAHRATTA, OBEDIENT, MATCHLESS, VENUS, HARDY, HNorMS STORD, and INGLEFIELD left Gibraltar p.m. for the United Kingdom. The next day Swordfish DK774 had a barrier crash after turning form an anti-submarine (A/S) patrol, the crew Sub-Lt J. M. Reid-Henry and PO Airman C. Coles were unhurt.

UNICORN arrived on the Clyde on October 10th, and the first squadron to disembark was 897, flying ashore to RNAS Burscough the same day; Lt R. D. Beilby RNVR was killed leaving the ship, his aircraft crashed into the sea on take-off. 887 flew ashore to RAF Andover on October 11th; after an overnight stop they continued on to RNAS Machrihanish the following day. 809 flew ashore to RAF Andover on October 12th and 818 disembarked to RNAS Belfast on the 13th.

The ship now entered a Belfast shipyard to complete her outfitting as a repair and maintenance carrier. While her workshop equipment was being installed the specially selected officers and men who would form her Air Repair Department were being assembled and trained at RN Air maintenance Yards in Belfast and Glasgow. They embarked in late December, just prior to her sailing for the Far East. The ships manning was adjusted accordingly, the new draft was large enough to provide round the clock workshop operations employing three watches. Now, no longer classed as an operational carrier and she would not be carrying her own squadrons, the Air Operations Department was reduced to the minimum required to receive and despatch aircraft related to repair and maintenance.
 

Reallocated to the Eastern Fleet

On emerging from the dockyard, UNICORN began preparation for passage to Ceylon to join the Eastern Fleet as an aircraft maintenance ship. 818 squadron, now reduced to 4 Swordfish, re-joined the ship on November 22nd flying out from RNAS Machrihanish. A ferry load of reserve airframes as also embarked for delivery to Cochin, India.

UNICORN sailed from the Clyde on December 29th 1943 in company with ILLUSTRIOUS screened by destroyers TERMAGANT, TENACIOUS, and KEMPENFELT for Ceylon, they were joined by the Battleships RENOWN, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and VALIANT the next day for passage to Port Said. One of her Swordfish was lost on the 30th, HS553 flown by Sub-Lt C. N. Bates RNVR ditched ½m E of Holy Isle, Firth of Clyde.

While on passage a detachment of 8 Barracuda II aircraft belonging to 847 squadron transferred from ILLUSTRIOUS to UNICORN for anti-submarine patrols and DLT between January 2nd and the 26th. Tragically 2 aircraft and their crews were lost during this detachment, both after suffering engine failure; on January 2nd P9962 ditched while on A/S patrol killing Sub-Lt P. L. Morgan RNVR, Sub-Lt J. F. Briton RNVR & Leading Airman R. Dexter, on the 4th Barracuda DT852 lost power after take-off for an A/S patrol and ditched, the depth charges she carried exploded killing Sub-Lt N. Wallworth RNVR, Sub-Lt R. L. Holloway RNVR & Leading Airman L Chadwick.

UNICORN, ILLUSTRIOUS and RENOWN entered the Suez Canal at 09:00 on January 12th, anchoring in the Great Bitter Lake overnight. Arriving at Port Suez at 10:00 on the 13th. At 08:00 on the 16th UNICORN and ILLUSTRIOUS with the destroyers PETARD, PALADIN, PATHFINDER, and ROCKET sailed from Suez to carry out High Angle. firings in the Gulf of Suez before continuing the passage to Aden. The ships arrived at Aden to refuel on the afternoon of the 19th, sailing for Colombo. At 1800 on the 26th, UNICORN, screened by ROEBUCK and RAPID, was detached and proceeded to Cochin, where she arrived on the morning of January 27th.

After unloading her ferry load UNICORN Sailed for Trincomalee on February 1st escorted by NIZAM, NEPAL, and QUIBERON, arriving on the 2nd. 818 squadron disembarking to RN Air Section China Bay on February 5th. She next proceeded to Colombo arriving there on March 27th before continuing on to Bombay where she entered a dockyard for a short refit.

HMS UNICORN at anchor in Clappenburg Bay with Barracuda aircraft on deck

She arrived back at Trincomalee in late April where she was moored in Clappenburg Bay, of the RN Air Section at RAF China Bay. Here she provided air maintenance support for the Fleet Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS, INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS, maintain a small reserve of airframes ashore at China Bay along with a small test fight party. While in Ceylon the American single seat fighter the Vought Corsair was entering frontline service and UNICORN embarked several Special Maintenance Parties trained in the US to repair this type.

Deck Landing Training Carrier In addition to her maintenance role UNICORN was to act as a Deck Landing Training carrier for squadrons based on the island, operating from both Trincomalee and Colombo. She sailed screened by PENN and PETARD on April 29th for a DLT period with 832 squadron Martlets from RNAS Katukurunda; 818 re-embarked their Swordfish on the same date. DLT continued into early May, providing a deck for pilots from 756 squadron at RNAS Katukurunda. The only recorded flying incident in May is Barracuda DT883, flown by Sub-Lt N. W. Dyson RNZNVR, which landed on with the undercarriage not locked down on the 4th.

Beginning on June 5th and completing on June 7th the Corsairs of 1837 and 1938 squadrons flew out to the ship from RAAF Minneriya, and on the 14th to the 15th the Hellcats of 1844 squadron operating out of Chins Bay, for an intensive period of DLT. At some stage it appears that 818 squadron operated at least one Hellcat fighter; on July 25th Lt. G. W. Finlayson RNZNVR was flying in Hellcat FN409 and was unable to fully lower the landing gear approaching UNICORN, he landed safely with the gear only partially down. The squadron transferred to the escort carrier ATHELING August 23rd.

Above: A damage Barracuda is hoisted onboard from a lighter in preparation for inspection by an Air Engineering Officer. Below: A repaired Barracuda ready to be ferried ashore to RN Air Section China Bay.

Last modified: 04 June 2024

Additional sources:

Hobbs, D. (2007) 'Moving bases: Royal Navy Maintenance Carriers and MONABs' Liskeard, Maritime Books