Her keel was laid down on April 7th 1941, by the Western Pipe and Steel Co. in San Francisco as the 'STEEL ARTISAN’ a Maritime Commission C3 type freighter; Maritime Commission hull number 171, Western Pipe and Steel hull number 62. She was purchased by the US navy to be the USS BARNES ACV- 7). She was launched on September 27th 1941 by her sponsor Mrs. William A. Ross. The hull was towed to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo California on October 10th 1941 for conversion and fitting out as an aircraft carrier. Whilst still under construction it had been decided that ACV- 7 was to be transferred to the Admiralty, on loan on her completion.

ACV- 7 was delivered to the US Navy and commissioned as USS BARNES on September 30th 1942; she was decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day. She was the first Bogue class escort carrier to be supplied under the Lend-Lease scheme. She commissioned as HMS ATTACKER (D02) while alongside Pier 26 in San Francisco on October 7th 1942, Captain W. W. P. Shirley-Rollison RN in command.

Sea trials and work-up: November 1942 to March 1943

HMS ATTACKER began sea and flying trials off San Francisco on November 12th, embarking the 4 Swordfish Is of 838 naval air squadron from USNAS Alameda Island. These aircraft had been at Alameda Island since early August waiting for the ship to arrive, They had formed and worked-up at RN Air Section Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on May 15th 1942 and had flown across country to San Francisco, thirty-five and a half hours' flying time in a journey spread over seven and a half days.

On being passed fit for duty on completion of her trials and shake down she sailed from San Francisco for Balboa on December 12th and passed through the Panama Canal to arrive at Cristobal on December 22nd 1942. From Cristobal she headed for the Naval operating Base at Norfolk, Virginia. 838 squadron disembarked to USNAS Quonset Point on January 1st 1943.

During January ATTACKER underwent defect rectification after her maiden voyage and then began a period of flying training in Chesapeake Bay. She was visited by Martlet fighters from 882, 896 and 898 squadrons for Deck Landing Training (DLT) sessions prior to their embarking in the Fleet Carrier HMS VICTORIOUS at the start of February, and Swordfish from 838 and 840 squadrons which were working up at USNAS Quonset Point. On the last day of the fighter DLT period, February 1st 1943,a Martlet, FN132 of 898 Squadron flying from USNAS Quonset Point, crashed into the sea on take-off from ATTACKER and sank; killing the pilot Sub Lt R.U. Davis RNZNVR. On securing from flying stations the ship returned to Norfolk for modification work and the installation of additional equipment. ATTACKER lost her first crew member two days later, D/JX 288228 Able Seaman Sidney Morgan who is recorded as having died of wounds.

October 7tth 1942, Captain W. W. P. Shirley-Rollison RN reads the commissioning warrant for HMS ATTACKER alongside Pier 26 in San Francisco before the White Ensign is raised.. Photos courtesy of David Hamilton

Passage to the UK: March 1943

On March 2nd 838 squadron re-embarked together with a further 6 Swordfish of 840 squadron, both flying out from USNAS Quonset Poin. From Norfolk ATTACKER proceeded to Curacao, via Kingston Jamaica, to join a UK bound convoy. ATTACKER sailed from Willemstad, Curacao with convoy CU.01 on March 20th as part of the escort force and provided anti-submarine cover for the Atlantic crossing. She detached from the convoy on reaching the safety of UK waters and anchored on the Clyde on April 1st. She sailed for Liverpool the following day, both 838 and 840 squadrons disembarked, flying ashore to RNAS Machrihanish.

Swordfish V4387 '2C' of 838 naval air squadron making its approach to land on but crashing on deck. c. November 1942. Photos courtesy of David Hamilton
 

Modification and working-up: April - July 1943

On April 4th 1943 she arrived at Liverpool for a two-month period of modification to bring her to RN standards before entering full service. This work included installing British Type 79B aircraft warning and Type 272 surface search radars, replacing the US 5-inch gun mountings with British model, and modification of her petrol distribution system. Towards the end of her modification period a Swordfish (V4570 of 837 squadron was embarked on June 7th for trials using torpedoes with a fine-pitch prop.

HMS ATTACKER left Liverpool on June 15th and sailed for the Clyde to begin a five-week post modification work up and flying training program in preparation for operational service in the Mediterranean. Between the 19th and 21st June, she carried out flying training with Swordfish aircraft from 886 squadron, operating out of RNAS Machrihanish. This training session got off to an inauspicious start when Swordfish HS547 ('L'), piloted by Sub Lt J.A. Luke RNVR  was forced to make an emergency landing after his engine began spluttering and he had to return to the ship during the first day.

The squadron's full strength of 9 Seafire L.IIc & 6 Swordfish Is flew out from RNAS Machrihanish to join the ship on July 12th. The squadron's arrival was not without incident again, two Seafires were damaged on the 12th; Lt. I.O. Robertson RNVR broke the fuselage of LR633 when he failed to lower the tail after catching a wire, and he floated into the barrier in his replacement airframe NM927 later that day. Flying training continued through the month, with two more Seafires suffering damage; on the 21st Lt H. Lang RNZNVR stalled MB157 into the sea when it was caught by air eddies from ship, he was recovered OK. Two days later Lt H.G. Thom RAN in NM919 made a heavy tail landing and the aircraft suffered skin wrinkling. ATTACKER embarked a second squadron from RNAS Machrihanish on July 29th; this was 879, operating 10 Seafire L.IIc.

At some point during this period No.1 Carrier Borne Air Liaison Section, (1 CBAL) a part of the Army's No.12 Air liaison Section, arrived on board; this small 5-man unit comprised of Captain, a Sergeant and 2 clerks from the Royal Army Signals Corps, under the command of Major Richard Pegler RA. This was the first unit of its kind to operate with a carrier.
 

Departure for the Mediterranean

After storing ship and embarking passengers ATTACKER, in company with her sister CVEs BATTLER, HUNTER, and STALKER, sailed from the Clyde at 14:00 hours on August 2nd bound for Gibraltar. The four carriers and their escorts ran into a terrible storm in the Bay of Biscay which lasted thought the 3rd and into the 4th; the seas were so rough the ships had to heave to ride it out. All four carriers suffered storm damage and many aircraft were badly damaged, HUNTER suffered the worst of the damage and was forced leave the convoy to return to the UK. Upon arrival at Gibraltar, at 18:00 hours on the 9th, 886 squadron disembarked to RN air section North Front. The squadron's Swordfish were to remain ashore until October 1st conducting anti-submarine patrols, the Seafires re-embarking when the ship sailed for Malta on August 31st; 879 remained embarked. No.1 CBAL was to have disembarked at Gibraltar but permission was granted for them to remain aboard after Captain Shirley-Rollison put forward a compelling argument for them to be integrated into the ship's routine and so gain valuable experience.
 

Operation AVALANCHE: September 1943

ATTACKER sailed from Gibraltar at 18:00 on August 31st and proceeded to Mers-el-Kébir on the Algerian coast, arriving at 09:00 on September 1st. She left there to rendezvous with AA Cruiser SCYLLA and forces in company at 08:00 on September 5th. This force arrived at Malta at 07:00 on September 7th.

ATTACKER was to form part of Task Force 88, a part of Force 'V' the covering force for the allied invasion of Salerno, Italy in operation AVALANCHE planned for September 9 - 12th. Task Force 88 comprised CVEs ATTACKER, BATTLER, HUNTER, STALKER and the maintenance carrier UNICORN (making a rare operational contribution), Cruisers EURYALUS [flagship], 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 and FORMIDABLE and a screen of 21 destroyers including French, Polish and Greek warships 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.

Force 'V' left Malta on September 8th and proceeded via the Straits of Messina arriving on station 45 miles south-west of the beachhead early in the morning of the 9th. Each CVE in Task Force 88 carried 2 Seafire squadrons, UNICORN 3, making a total of 109 aircraft in 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 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.

Flying operations began at 06:15 and continued throughout the day, with ATTACKER's last range landing on at 19:15. Three aircraft were lost during operations; Sub-Lt P. B. N. Prentice RNVR (886) was killed when his aircraft, NM923, dove into the sea on approach to land on, he had made three approaches to the deck and been waved off by the DCLO three times, on the third wave off he stalled and ditched. During the last serial of the day, Sub-Lt G. Calder RNVR (879) in Seafire NM965, landing on under somewhat poor light conditions, floated at speed over the arrester gear and crashed through the barriers into the aircraft parked forward, NM965 was a write off, NM941 was pushed overboard by the impact and rendering another unserviceable for 18 hours. There were 6 other incidents recorded; Lt H Lang RNZNVR (886) made a heavy landing damaging his aircraft retuning for serial No, 2 and damaged his propeller landing on after serial No. 6; Sub-Lt T R. J. H. Grose RNVR (879) burst a tyre and damaged a mainplane landing on after serial 3; Lt G. P. L. Pardoe RNVR (879) crashed into the barrier writing off his aircraft landing on after serial 5; Lt I. O. Robertson RNVR (886) crashed into the barrier landing on after serial 8; Sub-Lt T. A. Cooper RNVR (886) had to return to the ship for an emergency landing 35 minutes after launching with serial 12.. By the end of the first day's flying program all 52 planned sorties had been completed; 12 aircraft were serviceable, or made serviceable for the following day.

During the night of the 9th/l0th September the Force preceded clear of the operational area, returning on the morning of the 10th, when flying resumed at 06:15. The day began with a tragedy when Ord. Seaman Edwin Kershaw, of the Aircraft Handling Party, ran into a propeller and was instantaneously killed. He was buried at sea at 11:00 on the same day. There were 4 landing incidents on the 10th; Sub-Lt A. A. Gowan RNZNVR (879) crashed on deck landing on from serial No. 6; Sub-Lt T. A. Cooper RNVR (886) crashed on deck landing on from serial No. 7; Sub-Lt G. Ogilvy (879) broke a wheel landing on from serial No. 8; Sub-Lt T R. J. H. Grose RNVR (879) returning to the ship in NM924 after landing on HUNTER earlier, crashed on deck breaking the aircrafts back. Later that day an aircraft from BATTLER was ordered to land on as her deck was fouled; Sub-Lt A. C. B. Ford RNVR (807) approached at an excessive speed, crashed through the barriers into the aircraft park, the pilot writing off his own aircraft and one in the park and severely damaged another. By the end of the second day's flying program 45 sorties had been completed; 8 aircraft were serviceable, or made serviceable for the following day..

At 06:15 on the 11th, flying resumed and operations continued throughout the day with the last range at 18:31. Lt. Morrison (879) landed at the emergency field ashore with arrestor hook trouble. His hook was repaired by the R.A.F. and he returned to the ship at 1705 and entered the barrier. Sub-Lt Sturges (879) in NM944 was unable to lower his undercarriage on returning to land on, and was told to return to shore for an emergency landing on Salerno beach; the aircraft was abandoned, he later re-joined the ship at Bizerta. Sub-Lt G. Ogilvy (879) entered the barrier landing on from serial No. 8; Sub-Lt TW Down (886) taxied MA996 into MB306 in the deck park after his brakes failed. The number of serviceable aircraft dwindled throughout the day; serials 1 -4 comprised of three stories, 5 – 8 managed only 2 sorties each and 9 – 13 managed only 1 aircraft. By the end of the third day's flying program 22 sorties had been completed; 5 aircraft were serviceable or made serviceable for the following day. The attrition rate was very high, all the CVEs required additional aircraft to be transferred from the Fleet Carriers of Force H in order to continue operations at this intensity (Force H withdrew to Malta on the 11th, being nearly out of aircraft itself by this time).

At 06:15 on the 12th, the first aircraft were flown off. Only 10 sorties were flown. At 09:10 Sub-Lt Whitehead from 880 squadron on STALKER landed on in Seafire MA985 damaging the undercarriage. 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. At approximately 1830 the Force left the operational area and proceeded to Palermo,  [1] arriving at 2000. At 0600 on the following morning the Force sailed for Bizerta, arriving there at 1900. ATTACKER's detached aircraft re-joined the ship on the 17th.

During the four days on station the carriers, launched a combined total of 707 sorties, aircraft from ATTACKER flew 130 sorties; 879 squadron carried out 75 patrol sorties, 886 flew 57. No aircraft were lost to enemy action.

Force 'V' was to disband on September 20th; ATTACKER, HUNTER  and STALKER proceeded to Gibraltar, arriving there on the 24th to await a convoy to the UK to refit and allow their squadrons the opportunity to receive replacement aircraft and aircrews. The three carriers joined the Clyde bound convoy MKF.24 as additional escorts on September 30th. The Swordfish element of 886 squadron re-joined ATTACKER on October 1st and conducted anti-submarine patrols on passage. The convoy arrived on the Clyde on October 6th, disembarking her squadrons to RNAS Machrihanish.

Left: Maintainers manually rotating the engine cylinders on a Seafire L.IIC  Right:  The same aircraft on its back after a barrier crash. Photos courtesy of Christopher Pegler.
 

Conversion to an Assault Carrier: October - December 1943

ATTACKER in company with HUNTER sailed from the Clyde on the 7th, ATTACKER for Rosyth naval dockyard, HUNTER for DUNDEE, both to undergo conversion to an assault carrier. ATTACKER arrived at Rosyth on October 10th. She was one of a number of CVEs selected for conversion into a new type of ship to be used to provide air support for major military landings.

The assault CVE would provide air cover until shore-based air strips became operational; Operation AVALANCHE was the first time such a strategy was tried and as a result ATTACKER, HUNTER and STALKER were nominated for conversion to the roles. The modifications involved many new pieces of equipment being installed; a new type 277 radar, a new telephone system consisting of over 100 telephones, a new Briefing Room and `Army Plot' Room, cabins added around the 'Aircraft Direction Room,' and numerous other additions such as extra W/T and R/T sets and still further improvements to the bridge. Another important modification was an anti-aircraft armament upgrade; all existing single Oerlikon mounts on the Gallery Deck and foc'sle deck, were to be changed for fourteen powered twin mountings. After emerging from the dockyard in December the ship underwent her post refit trials and then took passage from Rosyth to the Clyde. She re-embarked the Seafires of 879 and 886 squadrons on December 29th to begin work up and training in her new role.

Working up on the Clyde January to March 1944

Five flying incidents occurred during this training period; the first was on December 31st 1943 when Lt J. M. Howden RNZNVR (886) landing on in MB188 caught the last wire but failed to stop before his prop tipped the barrier. On January 3rd Sub Lt W. T. S. Buchan, (886) piloting NM973 floated into the barrier, on the 4th Sub Lt C. M. Carter (879) in NM914, struck rounddown on landing, caught a wire but the aircraft fell over the port side, he was rescued by the attendant destroyer. On January 7th Lt J. M. Howden RNZNVR (886 Squadron) made a forced landing after his aircraft LR645 suffered an engine fire. On February 1st Sub Lt J. W. Leake RNVR (886) was killed when his Seafire MA984 missed all the wires and bounced over the barrier then dove over the starboard bow into the sea. In early February ATTACKER was ordered to Liverpool for further repair work to be carried out, her squadrons flew ashore to RNAS Burscough on the 6th.

At this time 886's association with ATTACKER ended, the squadron was to be re-equipped and reallocated to other duties; 879 absorbed the aircraft and some of the aircrew of 886 squadron to bring the unit strength up to 20 aircraft. The ship entered the Alexandra Dock on the 9th; she would remain in dockyard hands for the next month before returning to the Clyde.

On March 13th ATTACKER was in a collision when CHASER [2] she dragged her anchor and later ran aground. No damage was suffered in the collision. On the 16th 879 squadron rejoined the ship, for nine days of flying, during this period the squadron suffered three more flying accidents; MB215 floated over the wires, hit the barrier and overturned on the 21st, Sub Lt R.G. Hallas was unharmed, the following day Sub Lt J.G. Hornshaw in NM937 caught a late wire and was stopped by the barrier and Sub Lt G. Calder in LR730 hit the rounddown landing on. The squadron flew ashore to RAF Long Kesh, Northern Ireland on the 24th for a short spell of Army Co-operation training. ATTACKER anchored off Belfast and the ship's company were granted leave from March 31st. ATTACKER provided a day's Deck landing practice for STALKER's 809 squadron on April 7th..

On April 30th 879 re-joined the ship and ATTACKER was allocated to join the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow for Operation HOOPS, an attack on Norwegian coast shipping with HUNTER and STALKER s scheduled for May 8th, the three assault carriers being tasked with providing fighter cover for a strike against shipping off the South Norwegian coast by Hellcats from EMPEROR. She left the Clyde for Scapa on the 4th arriving there on the 5th. Tasking allocations were changed before the operation was launched; all three carriers were withdrawn by Admiralty at the last moment, Instead SEARCHER (detached after Operation CROQUET) was to provide fighter escort for the Hellcats and STRIKER was added to provide A/S protection, The three assault carriers departed from Scapa on the 7th and proceeded to Belfast, arriving on the 8th.

Return to the Mediterranean: May 1944

On May 10th replacement Seafires were hoisted aboard from tenders. One was hoisted to the deck head storage in the afternoon but fell in the evening; it was written off but another that it had damaged was repairable. A further five Seafires were securely slung up on May 12th; there were now 30 Seafires aboard, 20 were on squadron strength with 10 reserves. Also, on the 12th the ship's new commanding officer, Capt. H.B. Farncomb RAN came aboard

ATTACKER, in company with HUNTER and STALKER sailed on May 14th as additional escort for convoy KMS.51, which departed from Liverpool the day before, for passage to re-join the forces in the Mediterranean. The carriers detached from the convoy at latitude 43N, on the 19th, to proceed to other assigned support duties. ATTACKER put into Gibraltar on May 24th, and two groups of 5 Seafires were disembarked to operate from RNAS North Front until June 5th.

On June 2nd, the ship moved from its berth on the North mole to one on the detached mole; while there on the night of Sunday, June 4th at 02.15 an explosion rocked the ship and momentarily put out all the lights. An enemy submarine had apparently seen the silhouette of ATTACKER showing above the mole and loosed off a torpedo which detonated on hitting the mole. No serious damage occurred, the ship had been 'cushioned' by floating rafts between the ship and the mole. ATTACKER put to sea again with HUNTER, on June 6th, re-embarking the detached aircraft they sailed for Mers-el-Kebir, arriving the next day. The ship was to spend the next few months escorting convoys while in the western Mediterranean. She provided air cover for Convoy KMS.52 from Gibraltar June 6th to June 9th.

The ship moved on to Algiers on the 16th, and flew off 6 aircraft to operate from Blida, they were joined by four others on the 18th. 879 squadron was now split 50/50 between the ship and various airfields engaged on Army co-operation flying with units in North Africa and Italy including Blida (Algeria) June 16th - July 22nd, Pomigliano (Italy) June 22nd - 25th, Capodichino (Italy) June 22nd - 26th, Orvieto (Italy) June 25th - July 19th and Castiglione (Italy) July 5th - 18th.

From Algiers ATTACKER provided partial cover for Convoy NSF.25 which departed from Oran June 19th while on passage for Naples arriving there on June 22nd when more detachments of 879 flew ashore to Pomigliano. She covered the return Convoy SNF.25 from Naples on June 24th, arriving Oran June 27th. On leaving SNF.25 ATTACKER switched to briefly cover the Port Said to Liverpool convoy MKF.3 2 as it passed her area of patrol. During early July ATTACKER was nominated to support the allied landings in south France and she undertook a Self-Maintenance Period, including a boiler clean, at Algiers before re-embarking her squadron on July 22nd in the Bay of Naples. She sailed for Malta the following day in company with EMPEROR, KHEDIVE, PURSUER and SEARCHER, anchoring in Dockyard Creek on July. 25th.
 

Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France: August 19444

At Malta ATTACKER joined Carrier Force TF88 for Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France. The Carrier Force comprised of the seven carriers of Rear Admiral Troubridge’s Escort Carrier Squadron and two U.S. CVEs, divided into two Task Groups; TG 88.1 cruisers ROYALIST (Rear Admiral Troubridge, CTF 88 and CTG 88.1), anti-aircraft cruiser DELHI, CVEs ATTACKER (879 squadron with 28 Seafire), EMPEROR (800 squadron with 23 Hellcat), KHEDIVE (899 squadron with - 26 Seafire), PURSUER (881 squadron with 24 Wildcat), SEARCHER (882 squadron with 28 Wildcat), destroyers TYRIAN, TEAZER, TROUBRIDGE (Screen Commander), and US destroyers JEFFERS, H.P. JONES, MARSH, NIBLACK and MURPHY. TG 88.2 comprised of the CVEs USS TULAGI (Rear Admiral Durgin USN, CTG 88.2, VOF-1 - 24 Hellcat), USS KAZAN BAY (VF-74 - 24 Hellcat), HUNTER (807 squadron with 24 Seafire) and STALKER 809 squadron with 23 Seafire), anti-aircraft cruisers CALEDON and COLOMBO, 6 US destroyers.

TG88.1 sailed for tactical exercises off Malta on August 1st, putting to sea at 07:30. The force continued to exercise off Malta until the 11th. The ships of TG88.1 sailed from Malta at 18:00 on August 12th to proceed to the flying off position, they were followed by TG 88.2 at 18:30.

Operation DRAGOON commenced in the early hours of August 15th, TF88 flying operations commenced at 06:00, the last aircraft landed on at 20:35. Only daylight flying operations were carried out. The assault area, centred on Saint-Tropez, extended some 30 miles along the Cote d'Azur. It was divided into four sectors, code named (from east to west) Camel, Delta, Alpha and Sitka. The assault troops were formed of three American divisions of the VI Corps, reinforced by the French 1st Armoured Division. The 3rd Infantry Division landed on the left at Alpha Beach (Cavalaire-sur-Mer), the 45th Infantry Division landed in the centre at Delta Beach (Saint-Tropez), and the 36th Infantry Division landed on the right at Camel Beach (Saint-Raphaël). A fourth Force, the First Special Service Force, a joint U.S.-Canadian special forces unit was landed on the offshore islands for ‘Operation Sitka’ to neutralise the Hyères Islands, (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Bagaud, and Levant). By the end of the first day, 60,150 troops and 6,737 vehicles had been put ashore, including the first French armoured contingent.

On ‘D’ Day, August 15th, ATTACKER and TG 88.1 were at the flying off position at 05:30 and 879 squadron had 28 serviceable aircraft that could be tasked with any of six mission types: Fighter Bomber (F/B), Strafing, Tactical Reconnaissance (TacR), Force Cover, Beach Cover, and Bombardment Spotting (Spotting was a secondary mission for the Seafires of ATTACKER and KHEDIVE with only 8 Pilots in each ship trained, whereas PURSUER and SEARCHER had 12 wildcat pilots trained in each ship). 879 Sqn had 28 aircraft on board (24 Seafire L.III – fighter and fighter bomber, 19 of which were equipped for dive bombing, and 4 Seafire LR.IIc – general purpose and photo recon), and limited reserves aircraft held ashore at Casabianda airfield in Corsica.

A pre-planned flying programme had been promulgated covering the first 5 days of operations, ‘D’ to ‘D’ + 4. The programme for D-Day called for the squadron to fly 38 sorties; 24 F/B, 4 Force Cover and 2 TacR. This however was not fixed, calls for strikes on enemy positions or additional spotting sorties could be passed to the ship throughout the day. Operations commenced at 06:00 with the launch of 4 F/B aircraft, the first of 8 such serials; low cloud and haze prevented the identification of many targets, and some aircraft encountered light flak. During the forenoon, one F/B serial was sent to bomb coastal fortifications. Initial results were, however, disappointing as the targets wore obscured by a ground mist. Alternative targets, the enemy's communications leading into the assault area towards Saint-Tropez were therefore bombed. Tactical Reconnaissance was carried out along the main inland roads between Nice, and Toulon well into the interior. A number of interesting and useful photographs were taken and reports of enemy movement were rendered. No enemy aircraft were encountered.

During the day 879 flew the programmed thirty-eight sorties. Very light winds of 18 knots over the deck meant that aircraft had to utilise the full length of deck for the take-off run and landing was also affected by the higher landing speeds which had the potential to result in deck crashes. . Two aircraft put out of action through barrier crashes, LR759 flown by Sub Lt D.A. Gibson, RNVR and LR692 flown by Sub-Lt J. G. Hornshaw, the later was so badly damaged the airframe was jettisoned to clear the deck. Another consequence of the low wind was mist and haze; the coast was not visible and only the smoke of explosions could be seen from the ship.

On D+1 879 had 26 serviceable aircraft and 24 pilots available at dawn. At 06:00 4 F/B and 4 TacR aircraft were ranged on deck on call but did not launch. The prepared flying programme called for 16 sorties; 4 F/B (on call), 4 TacR (on call), and Force Cover. The first launch of the day was to be at 17:40 - 4 aircraft for Force Cover. A F/B mission lead by Lt. Cdr D. G. Carlisle, S.A.N.F.(V) which located a column of Motor Transport near St.Maximin (between Aix and Brignollcs) and attacked it with bombs and guns, a number of vehicles being destroyed and damaged., TacR sorties overed the same roads as the day before. In the afternoon Force Cover and an additional spotting mission were launched- 2 aircraft to provide bombardment spotting for the Cruiser AURORA in the Giens - Hyeres area, but the flight leader Sub Lt D. L. Gibson, RNVR failed to locate any targets worth shooting at and no bombardment was carried out.

During the day 879 flew 26 sorties: 8 F/B, 10 TacR, 6 Force Cover, and 2 spotter. One aircraft flown by Lt. P. J. P. Leckie, RNVBR received damage to its tail unit but returned to the ship OK.

On D+2 879 had 26 serviceable aircraft and 24 pilots available. Wind speeds increased slightly to a maximum of 25 knots across the deck. The prepared flying programme was the same as for D +1. Eight F/B aircraft launched at 09.30 on a bombing and strafing mission between Brignoles and Aix. Lt. Cdr Carlisle and Sub-Lt Hornshaw led their respective flights targeting a railway bridge, and though the bridge was not destroyed the road was cratered and they bombed and strafed dispersed M/T near Brignoles, exploding an ammunition wagon, destroying four vehicles and damaging a number of others.

An Army Co-operation mission was received in the afternoon to assist with a problematic target, a Fort on port Cros Island. This s fort was in dead ground, unreachable by ship's gunfire, and had been attacked by Wildcats from PURSUER and Hellcats from EMPEROR in the morning. In the late afternoon KHEDIVE and ATTACKER launched 8 500 Lb bomb equipped F/B Seafires each, to strike at the fort, the 16 aircraft were led by Lt .Cdr G. C. Baldwin, DSC, RN, No.4 Wing larder . Four direct hits were recorded on buildings within the Fort, 2 were destroyed. The Seafires then ranged inland and strafed railway sidings west of Brignoles.

The day’s TacR mission led by Lt. G. Ogilvy, RNR located and photographed a defence system south of Oraison. He also located a largo column of armoured vehicles and M/T, north rest of Aix-on-Provence. Shortly afterwards he met a squadron of American Hellcats which he was able to direct on to this target. Once the film was developed and printed on board copies were flown to, and dropped alongside the USS CATOCTIN, the amphibious force flagship, off Saint-Tropez.

During the day 879 flew 20 sorties: 16 F/B), and 4 TacR

On D+3 879 had 26 serviceable aircraft and 24 pilots available. The prepared flying programme was the same as for D +1. The flying programme vas comparatively light on August 18th with only 20 sorties being flown. These wore mainly TacR sorties with a small number of F/B. By this time the enemy was beginning to withdraw to the northwest and the TacR flights had to range further in land to locate targets for the F/B and Strafing sorties to attack.

During the day 879 flew 20 sorties: 8 F/B, and 12 TacR.

On D+4 879 squadron had 24 serviceable aircraft and 24 pilots available. The prepared flying programme was the same as for D+1. A combined TacR and Fighter strafing mission was launched on the 19th against M/T and troop movements in co-operation with Seafires from 899 Sqn on KHEDIVE, was the first ever attempted, and it proved successful. The TacR leader, Lt R. J. Sturges, RNVR (879 Sqn), put the Fighters on to two groups of targets and quantity of M/T was destroyed and damaged. Unfortunately one of KHEDIVE's pilots Sub-Lt D. A. Carey, RCNVR was killed during a low level attack on German motor vehicles, his aircraft NF661 was seen to fly into a hill at Fuveaux. He was pulled from the wreckage seriously injured and was taken on board PURSUER but died from his injuries on August 21st. This tactic of striking in areas behind enemy lines in the early stages of an operation, saw transport located by TacR aircraft being strafed by fighters fitted with long range tanks instead of bombs to reach the more inland areas covered by the TacR aircraft. As the operation progressed the aircraft had to probe every deeper inland to locate targets.

Later in the day a formation of tanks was attacked by Lt H. D. Easy, RNVR’s F/B flight. One received a direct hit from a 500 lb bomb (Sub-Lt D. A. Gibson, RNVR) and another was probably dammed by a near miss (Lt Easy). Two Lorries were hit by Sub Lt W. A. Clarke e in LR704 despite severe AA fire; however on returning to the ship his aircraft bounced and sailed over all the arrestor wires entered he barrier. [3]

Another sortie attacked a largo gun and tractor, completely destroying both, together with a staff car, a motor cycle and their respective drivers. Sub-Lt R. A. Gowan, RNZNVR also led a successful sortie of eight Fighter- Bombers which did severe damage to enemy communications between Salon and Orange. The aircraft came under heavy A.A. fire over the former town but skilfully avoided it.

During the day 879 flew 20 sorties: 8 F/B, 8 Strafing, and 4 TacR. One Seafire possibly out of action due to deck crash.
 

The two Task Groups of Force 88 had operated together for the first five days of the operation, but separated late on the 19th; ATTACKER, EMPEROR, PURSUER, and SEARCHER withdrew to Maddalena, Sardinia for a 24 hours replenishment and rest period while KHEDIVE transferred to TG 88.2 to bolster that force which remained off the French coast providing air cover.

D+5, rest day: TG88.1 arrived at Maddalena at 08:00 on August 20th and the carriers anchored in Arcachon Bay. The pilots had a day’s rest but most of the ship's company were busy on maintenance work, embarking bombs, ammunition, petrol, stores, etc. The Force sailed at 18:00 to return to the operational area.

On D+6 TG88.1 carriers arrived t at the flying off point south of Marseilles at 06:00 on the 21st, 879 squadron had 24 serviceable aircraft and 24 pilots available. The programmed flying schedule had ended on D+5 so the carriers were now supplying sorties on request from the Bombardment co-coordinators and Amy Co-operation teams. A programme of TacR and F/B missions were carried out in the general area Salon - Avignon - Orange -Nimes - Arles, the main targets being a large quantity of German M/T and amour retreating northwards. Pilots engaged on TacR missions encountered low cloud and industrial haze together with smoke from forest fires started by the enemy, and were forced to operas at altitudes lower than those normally recognized as reasonably safe (about 6,000 foot). Far more heavy flak was encountered as the enemy continued its retreat and this caused the loss of two aircraft and prevented the F/B pilots from carrying out strafing attacks.

The first launch of the day was 4 TacR Seafires at dawn, these split into pairs to search for targets of opportunity; only one of each pair returned to the ship. Each pair was to have an aircraft shot down, Sub Lt G. Calder, RNVR was hit first; suffering damage from AA fire near Nimes he managed to make a forced landing in the countryside and avoided capture until allied forces found him. His wing man loitered in the area before his fuel levels made him head back to the coast, he landed on another carrier when it looked like his fuel was too low to make it to ATTACKER. Later that sortie Sub Lt A.I.R. Shaw', RNVR was hit by enemy AA fire after he successfully attacked German mobile artillery on a country road near Pont St.Esprit, his engine was on fire so he had to bail out over enemy territory [4] . He was soon captured but subsequently escaped and was helped by locals until the advancing allied forces reached his location. His wingman was flying in a camera equipped Seafire and he took photos of the parachute as it floated to earth, he arrived back on board safely. Both downed pilots eventually re-joined the squadron.

At approx. 14:00 a further 5 aircraft were put out of commission; Sub Lt W. A. Clarkein LR710, returning from a TacR sortie, caught his hook on a plate on the after lift, was thrown up over all the arrestor wires and cleared the barriers to continue on into the forward deck park, damaging LR643, NN128 & LR740; Sub Lt A. A. Gowan RNZNVR [5] was critically injured in the crash, he was still in the cockpit of his aircraft (NN128) having taxied forward into the aircraft park, his thigh was broken by LR740's airscrew which ripped through the cockpit door causing a serious compound fracture of the right femur, and was later transferred to the Naval Hospital, Maddalena. The fifth aircraft put out of commission was LR760, Lt Ogilvy caught No.5 wire but continued into the barrier.

During the day 879 flew 20 sorties, a mix of TacR and F/B: 2 Seafires lost to enemy fire, both pilots missing but safe 5 Seafires damaged in deck crashes but repairable. 1 pilot seriously injured.

August 21st 1944: Seafire NN128 shortly after it was hit in the aircraft park by LR710 which had floated over all the arrestor wires, and the barrier to severely damage three other parked aircraft. Sub Lt A. A. Gowan RNZNVR was still in the cockpit of NN128 when the prop of LR710 tore through his cockpit door and severely damaged his right thigh. Sub Lt Clarke was unharmed. Photos courtesy of George Clarke.

On D+7 879 squadron had 17 serviceable aircraft and 21 pilots available. The flying off position was moved to the western side of the Gulf of Lyons in response to information that a German division was believed to be moving across from the Biscay coast. The division, however, moved north instead of east, and targets were hard to find in the new operational area west of the Rhone. KHEDIVE re-joined the force at 08:00.

TacR aircraft from ATTACKER extensively reconnoitered the Bezieres- Narbonne-Carcaconne area searching for signs of considerable amounts of heavy transports and armour on the move thereabouts reported by overnight intelligence reports. Some rail and road movements were located in the Béziers and Narbonne areas but good targets were hard to find, these were attacked by F/B aircraft and successfully bombed on several occasions. The same areas were also targeted by Seafires from KHEDIVE and Hellcats from EMPEROR.

During the day 879 flew 30 sorties, a mix of TacR and F/B: One aircraft took some flak damage but returned to the ship and landed safely.

On D+8 the force returned to the operating position south of Marseilles overnight, and attention was redirected to the Rhone Valley; 879 squadron had 18 serviceable aircraft and 21 pilots available.

Attention was redirected to the Rhone Valley and two pairs of TacR aircraft were flown off at 07:00, Lt Easy and his wingman located large amounts of traffic on the Rhone road heading north of Avignon and experienced hardy flak along the whole of the route. Sub-Lt Gibson and his wingman, working-r over minor roads further westward also located retreating transport but in smaller quantity and experienced much less flak. Throughout the morning 3 strikes of 8 F/B Seafires were launched to attack these targets.

However little moving M/T was located as strikes launched from the other carriers of TG88.1 had also been sent in to attack the same targets there was a large amount of damaged vehicles on the roads; on during one sortie about 120 wore found to have already berm destroyed. F/B strikes continued during the afternoon. As many serviceable vehicles as could be located were attacked and either damaged or destroyed. Later attention switched to bombing roads and railways which may have been used as an evacuation route by the German garrisons at Toulon and Marseilles.

During the final day of operations 879 had flown 40 sorties, a mix of TacR and F/B.
 

Flying operation for TG88.1 ended at 19:45 and the Force left the operational area at 21:00 for a second time to refuel and rearm and set course for Magdalena. TG88.2 arrived back on station at 06:30 on August 24th D+9 to resume operations. TG88.1 anchored in Arcachon Bay, Magdalena at 11:30 on the 24th. A further barrier crash occurred that morning when the arrestor hook of NN357, flown by Sub Lt R.I. Sturges, RNVR bounced off the deck and locked up.

The ships of TG88.1 were released from DRAGOON operations at dusk on Sunday August 27th, HUNTER and STALKER arrived at Maddalena at 10:45 on Monday August 28th and anchored in Arsachona Bay. At about 11:30, elements of TG88.1 left Maddalena later that day to proceed to Alexandria. ATTACKER left Maddalena on the 29th, having suffered a generator failure which held her departure up by 24 hours. A further barrier crash is recorded as happening on the 28th when Sub Lt Gibson flying in MB260 landed off centre, caught number 8 wire and hit the island. ATTACKER arrived at Alexandrian September 2nd to replenish stores, 879 squadron received replacement aircraft and aircrew from RNAS Dekhelia.

879 squadron's aircraft had completed 226 sorties including strikes on ground targets, bombardment spotting for HMS AURORA and tactical reconnaissance missions; 120 were bombing missions. The squadron began operations with 28 Seafires, at the end of DRAGOON operations on August 27th they had 17 serviceable machines, and no replacements had been received. Three aircraft were destroyed, 2 by enemy action, 1 damaged beyond repair by a barrier crash; 8 aircraft were damaged in deck landing crashes.

Operation OUTING I & OUTING II: September - October 1944

ATTACKER put to sea again on September 14th bound for the Aegean deployed for operation OUTING I and t to relieve HUNTER. She arrived on station on the 15th joining Force A with CVEs EMPEROR, KHEDIVE, PURSUER and SEARCHER, Cruisers ORION, AJAX, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE, ARGONAUT, AURORA, and COLOMBO; their task was to hamper and delay German troop movements in the Dodecanese Islands, (Leros, Kos, Samos, Rhodes and Levitha).

ATTACKER's aircraft (15 Seafire L.III and 5 Seafire LR.IIcs) flew armed reconnaissance sorties from the 16th, and ground attack missions on enemy transport, including dive-bombed shipping in Rhodes harbour on the 19th. Returning from a Force Cover sortie on the 19th Sub Lt W.A. Clarke suffered a barrier crash on Landing in Seafire LR704, after a hard three point landing the aircraft bounced and the tail wheel fell off, unable to regain airspeed the aircraft continued into the barrier.

ATTACKER withdrew to Alexandria on the 20th to re-supply. She sailed for the Dodecanese Islands on September 27th for the second phase of operations, OUTING II. Seafires from 87 squadron strafed the W/T station on Levitha on the 3rd before conducting Tactical Reconnaissance flights on the 4th together with bombardment spotting for the cruiser ROYALIST. The force returned to Alexandria for a further replenishment of aircraft and stores on October 5th; ATTACKER's aircraft having completed 102 sorties.
 

Operation MANNA October 1944

On her return to the Eastern Aegean ATTACKER again relieved HUNTER on October 11th, for the next offensive, Operation MANNA. ATTACKER operated as part of Force 120 from the 15th, with CVEs EMPEROR and STALKER, Cruisers AURORA, BLACK PRINCE, AJAX, ORION, Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TERMAGANT, TUSCAN, TYRIAN and Polish ORP GARLAND to cover the reoccupation of Piraeus. STALKER left the force on the 20th, returning to Alexandria. On the 23rd and 24th railway rolling stock and motor transport was strafed and set on fire, and together with extensive dive-bombing of the railway system stopped all rail traffic on Kos. Towards the end of the month ATTACKER and EMPEROR provided air cover for amphibious landing at Mitylene on the island of Lesbos. On the 26th, aircraft from 87 squadron operated ashore at Mitylene until re-embarking to cover the landing on Piskopi on the 29th. ATTACKER withdrew to Alexandria on October 30th leaving EMPEROR as the only CVE operating in the area. 879 had flown 240 sorties between September 16th and October 29th.
 

Return to UK, repairs, leave and refit: November 1944 - March 1945

On October 31st the three Assault Carriers, ATTACKER, HUNTER & STALKER sailed in company for the UK. Calling at Malta on November 3rd ATTACKER embarked 150 ratings for passage to the UK. The three carriers were earmarked for service with the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (21 ACS), with the East Indies Fleet (EIF) and were to undergo a short period of defect rectification while their crews went on home leave. They reached Plymouth on November 10th and were put in the hands of Devonport Naval Dockyard.

The carriers sailed from Plymouth on November 29th for Gibraltar; all three were on passage to undergo refits in Mediterranean dockyards; STALKER was to refit in Gibraltar on their arrival on December 3rd so her squadron, 809 Seafires transferred to ATTACKER on leaving Plymouth and were disembarked along with 879 squadron to RNAS Dekheila, Egypt on December 11th. HUNTER proceeded to Malta for refit beginning December 6th. ATTACKER was to refit in the Italian port of Taranto. [5]
 

Allocated to the East Indies Fleet: April 1945

On completion of post refit trials HMS ATTACKER sailed for Alexandria on April 1st 1945. She re-embarked the 24 Seafires of 879 squadron from RNAS Dekheila on the 14th and proceeded through the Suez Canal to Aden and on to Ceylon. There were two barrier crashes while on passage; Sub Lt W .T .S. Buchan in NN490 in April 19th and Sub Lt H. C. Vane in NN495 on the 21st, ATTACKER arrived off Ceylon on April 29th and disembarked her squadron to RNAS Katukurunda.

Although now a part of 21 ACS ATTACKER was not fit for operational duty due to defects that had presented themselves on passage. She was initially deployed with HUNTER on aircraft transport duties from ports in India and South Africa to Ceylon. 879 squadron re-embarked on June 10th, and the ship proceeded to Cape town on her last ferry trip.  On June 23rd ATTACKER embarked the 24 Hellcats and personnel of 898 squadron at Cape town for passage to Ceylon. They had formed and worked-up at RNAS Wingfield, Cape town and were destined to join the CVE PURSUER for service with the East Indies Fleet. The aircraft were loaded by crane from the dockside and carried as deck cargo, the Seafires of 879 squadron were stowed in the hangar; there would be no flying on the return leg to Colombo. On reaching Ceylon in early July 898 were disembarked to RNAS Colombo Racecourse; 879 remaining aboard until July 7th, presumably on flying training. They disembarked to RNAS Katukurunda but re-embarked three days later as ATTACKER continued flying operations before taking passage to Trincomalee where they disembarked to RNAS Trincomalee on the 19th.

This short ten-day outing was a costly one for 87 squadron, 11 aircraft suffered damage through flying incidents, and one pilot was killed. The run of bad luck began the day the squadron re-embarked with Sub Lt B. Lees RNZNVR putting NF445 into the barrier. On the 11th two aircraft 'pecked' the deck on landing, NF600 flown by Sub Lt G. H. Wilson RNZNVR and NN401 flown by Sub Lt M.D. S. McClelland RNVR; Sub Lt I.H. Gladders RMVR made a heavy landing in NN437 resulting in the starboard tyre bursting and buckling the oleo leg. A fourth incident on the 11th resulted in Sub Lt A.W.K. Foxon being killed; his Seafire NN347 flew through the barrier damaging parked aircraft as it dived over starboard side into the sea. There were five more aircraft put out of action on the 12th, Sub Lt W. . Cody in  NF643 hit the rounddown with his tail wheel causing damage to the fuselage; later that day he put NN408 into the barrier. Sub Lt L. Livemore RNVR in NN365 also put his aircraft into the barrier, while Sub Lt G.H. Wilson RNZNVR flying NN451 caught a wire but his prop clipped the deck. while attempting to go round again, Sub Lt. HC Vane RNVR in NN397 hit the edge of the flight deck and the aircraft fell into the sea. The pilot was safely rescued. On the final day of flying before flying ashore to Trincomalee Seafire NN437 flown by Sub Lt G.H. Wilson RNZNVR suffered fuselage damage when a bomb carrier dislodged landing on.
 

C. July 1944: ATTACKER at Trincomalee with Seafires embarked and the lifts lowered to improve ventilation.

Operation JURIST the surrender of Penang, August 1945

Now fully worked up and operational ATTACKER and 879 squadron was allocated to participate in Operation JURIST an amphibious assault by the 3rd Commando Brigade to capture Penang Island on the west coast of Malaya planned for August 21st 1945. Elements of the EIF including ATTACKER and HUNTER had put to sea on August 15th for operation JURIST, when the news of the Japanese surrender was made when Station General Message "SUSPEND OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES' was made to all ships and allied forces.

Forces originally allocated to operation JURIST were Force 11, comparing the Battleship NELSON ( Flag, Vice Admiral Walker), escort carriers ATTACKER, HUNTER, SHAH and STALKER, the light cruisers CEYLON and NIGERIA, the destroyers PETARD, TARTAR and VOLAGE, and the landing ships PRINCES BEATRIX and QUEEN EMMA. Force 12 comprised the destroyers VERULAM and VIGILANT and eight yard minesweepers; Force 13 comprised the destroyer PENN and LST 383 loaded with vehicles; Force 14 with the escort destroyer CALPE and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s BELA and EMPIRE SALVAGE; Force 68 with the heavy cruiser LONDON (Flag, Commodore Poland) and destroyers RAIDER and ROCKET; and Force 157 with the Indian sloop GODAVARI, Coastal Forces repair ships BARRACUDA and MULL OF GALLOWAY, tanker CROMWELL, 26 motor launches of the 34th, 38th and 56th Motor Launch Flotillas, and nine harbour defence motor launches of the 110th Harbour Defence Motor Launch Flotilla.

With hostilities over attention turned to the reoccupation of former British territories held by Japanese forces, but it was to be late August before orders were received to send out naval forces to reoccupy key ports in Burma, Malaya and Singapore. Shortly after the JURIST forces took passage eastward delays in negotiations, and in the arrival of the Japanese Emperor's orders to cease hostilities in South East Asia became apparent; orders were issued postponing the start of JURIST and on August 20th all forces took shelter on the north east coast of Great Nicobar Island. ATTACKER and HUNTER were ordered to proceed to Rangoon.
 

JURIST revised

Political constraints also meant that no landing could take place until after signing of surrender in Tokyo. These delays meant that all plans were now to change; the occupation of Penang was still to be undertaken as Operation JURIST but without the amphibious assault, and would include the occupation of Sabang, both objectives being occupied by contingents of Fleet Royal Marines.

ATTACKER and HUNTER sailed from Rangoon on August 27th to rendezvous with NELSON and CEYLON off Penang. At mid-day on August 28th a reduced Force 11, NELSON, accompanied by CEYLON, ATTACKER and HUNTER, three destroyers and two large infantry landing ships carrying the Royal Marine landing party, arrived off George Town, Penang to negotiate the surrender of local Japanese forces and to reoccupy the area. At the same time LONDON, accompanied by one destroyer, arrived off the northern tip of Sumatra carrying a small contingent of Royal Marines to occupy Sabang Island. The Japanese forces surrender taking place on September 2nd.
 

Operation ZIPPER support and the surrender of Singapore

ATTACKER and HUNTER  sailed from George Town on September 7th and provided air cover for the passage of assault convoys through the Malacca Straits during the 8th and 9th for the modified Operation ZIPPER, the re-occupation of Port Swettenham and Port Dickson which began at first light on the 90th, before setting course for Singapore. The reoccupation of Singapore was achieved by Operation TIDERACE, allied forces had arrived in Singapore on September 4th, meeting no opposition. By 18:00 the Japanese had surrendered their forces on the island to Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Christison aboard HMS SUSSEX. The formal surrender was to be finalised on September 12th at Singapore City Hall. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 1945 the ships of Admiral Walkers force (now designated Force 61) and Carriers of the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron anchored in Singapore Roads between 0930 and 1030 and waited for instructions. Later the order was given for part of the force to proceed into the harbour; EMPEROR, HUNTER  KHEDIVE and STALKER anchored in Keppel Harbour. The CVEs AMEER and ATTACKER were among 90 ships (including 70 RN and RIN warships, 3 Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, 3 hospital ships and 14 merchant vessels) present in Singapore Roads for the ceremony in which the Japanese forces in South East Asia surrendered on September 12th.

September 1945 - HMS ATTACKER enters Singapore harbour, the ship is 'dressed' for entering harbour, a Seafire of 879 squadron stands p on the flight deck wearing invasion marking.

Return to the UK: October - November 1945

On September 14th HMS ATTACKER sailed from Singapore bound for Trincomalee, arriving there on the 19th, her squadron disembarked to RNAS Trincomalee. She was released from duties with the EIF and prepared to take passage to UK; she re-embarked her squadron on October 10th and sailed for Bombay the following day. She carried many passengers and servicemen going home to be de-mobbed; after Bombay she called at Malta on route, arriving in UK waters on November 10th 1945. 879 squadron departed from the ship for the final time she steamed up the Irish Sea, flying off to RNAS Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland. HMS ATTACKER arrived at her mooring on the Clyde on November 11th 1945.
 

Disposal: return to US custody December 1945

She was to be removed from active service upon her arrival and once her passengers had been disembarked work began to de-store her. The next stage was the removal of Admiralty equipment in preparation for her return to US Navy custody under the terms of the Lend/Lease agreement.

HMS ATTACKER departed from the Clyde on her final voyage on December 9th 1945, calling at Southampton to embark US troops for passage to Norfolk, Virginia, arriving on 24th December. She was decommissioned by the Royal Navy on December 29th 1945 and returned to USN custody at Norfolk. CVE 7 was struck from the US Navy list on February 26th 1946 and put up for disposal.

She was sold on September 11th 1946 to William B. St. John, for conversion into a merchant vessel for National Bulk Carriers of New York City, N.Y. Work on her conversion was stopped when she was purchased in 1950 by Navcot Corp, a company set up by Alexander Vlasov, founder of Sitmar Lines. She was renamed CASTEL FORTE but remained laid up; in 1952 she was transferred to the books of the Sitmar Line but work did not resume until February 1957 when she was moved to the Bethlehem Shipyards in New York to begin a conversion to a passenger liner. She sailed to Genoa in December 1957, where she received her interior fittings including accommodations for 1,461 passengers. On completion in 1958 she was registered in Panamanian under her new name FAIRSKY. She commenced service from Southampton on June 26th 1958. She operated on the England to Australia route carrying immigrants until February 1972 when she was laid up at Southampton. She re-entered service in December 1973 and completed just 2 round voyages UK to Australasia, before becoming a full-time cruise ship from Australian ports, from mid-1974.

FAIRSKY hit a submerged wreck on June 23rd 1977 near Jakarta, Indonesia, and beached to prevent sinking. Re-floated June 29th 1977 after being temporarily patched up, the ship continued to Singapore under her own power, but when the extent of the damage became apparent it was decided she was beyond economical repair and was to be scrapped. She was purchased by a Philippines consortium which planned to convert her into a floating hotel and casino ship the PHILIPPINE TOURIST. She was towed to Mariveles, Luzon, Philippines, arriving there on March 28th 1978 to begin the conversion work but was destroyed by fire on November 3rd 1979 and subsequently scrapped at Hong Kong starting 24 May 1980

Last modified: 07 December 2022

Primary information sources
 

Additional sources:

Fold3.com various documents including;

 Rear Admiral Escort Carriers report on proceedings- Operation DRAGOON

Admiralty War Diaries
Norfolk Navy Yard War Diaries
Mew York Navy Yard War Diaries
Miscellaneous documents
 

Special thanks to Mr. George Clarke for making available the reminiscences of his late father, Sub Lieutenant (A) William Anthony 'Nobby' Clarke, RNVR (P) who served with 879 squadron 8 March 1944 - 14 November 1944. Many dates and events have been drawn from his diary, flying log book, and the squadron history.