H.M.S. FENCER Gllery

HMS FENCER gallery

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Under construction : September 1941 - Frbruary 1943

Images are from AVG-14 & AVG-15 at Western Pipe & Steel building, and AVG-12 at Mare Island Naval Dockyard fitting out.

October 31st 1941: Bow view of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

Decemober 1st 1941: Bowview of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

December 1st 1941: Bow view of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

December 1st 1941: Stern view of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

December 31st 1941: Bow view of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

December 31st 1941: Stern view of US Marine Commission Hull No, 174. Intended to be the USS HAMLIN but completed for transfer to the UK as STALKER.

April 4th 1942: AVG-14 (USS CROATAN) is launched.

July 14th 1943: Bow and forward end of the flight deck of AVG-12 (USS COPAHEE) nearing completion at Mare Island.

July 14th 1943: Midships looking aft view of the flight deck of AVG-16 (USS COPAHEE) nearing completion at Mare Island.

March 26th 1943: Broadside view of HMS FENCER (ex USS CROATAN) at sea in San Francisco Bay just prior to commencing her Admiralty acceptance trials.

March 26th 1943: Stern view of HMS FENCER (ex USS CROATAN) at sea in San Francisco Bay just prior to commencing her Admiralty acceptance trials.

842 squadron joins the ship - operaating onboard Sepetmber 1943- AAugust 1944

c. August 1943: Swordfish of 842 squadron parked on the flight Deck.

c. August 1943: One of 842 squadron’s Seafires landing on FENCER.

November 1st 1943: Swordfish LS191 ('A') has stalled on a pitching deck and veered into the island. The pilot, Sub-Lt H. G. Boniface RNZNVR and crew were OK.

December 1st 1043: Wildcat pilots Lieutenant (A) L. C. Wort RNVR (right) and Sub Lt (A) R. A. Flieschmann-Alan, RNVR, who had their first successful interception, shooting down a Fw200 reconnaissance plane which had been shadowing the convoy. © IWM (A 21194)

November 1st 1943: Swordfish LS191 ('A') has stalled on a pitching deck and veered into the island. The pilot, Sub-Lt H. G. Boniface RNZNVR and crew were OK.

November 1st 1943: Swordfish LS191 ('A') has stalled on a pitching deck and veered into the island. The pilot, Sub-Lt H. G. Boniface RNZNVR and crew were OK.(1)

December 20th 1943: Swordfish LS191 ('A’) has bounced over all the arrester wires and entered the barrier. The pilot, Sub-Lt B. F. Vibett RNVR and crew were OK. (2)

February 1944: A church service is held on the flight deck, with a pilot sitting in his Wildcat fighter at readiness to launch on the ship’s catapult. © IWM (A 21858)

March 27th 1944: this is probably JV350 ('S’) flown by Sub-Lt B. A. G. Woodwards RNVR which hit both barriers on embarking from RNAS Hatston, and overturned. (1)

March 27th 1944: this is probably JV350 ('S’) flown by Sub-Lt B. A. G. Woodwards RNVR which hit both barriers on embarking from RNAS Hatston, and overturned. (2))

April 18th 1944? This is probably JV527 ('S') flown by Sub-Lt R. P. Gibson RNVR which missed all the wires and entered the barrier.

Swordfish of 842 squadron operating from FENCER in Arctic conditions while escorting convoy RA.59 from Murmansk to the UK in May 1944. Clearing the snow ready for flight operations © IWM (A 23575)

Swordfish of 842 squadron operating from FENCER in Arctic conditions while escorting convoy RA.59 from Murmansk to the UK in May 1944. A Swordfish powers up ready to begin its take-off run on the treacherous deck © IWM (A 23576)

May 1944: FENCER at anchor in the Kola Inlet, Russia, awaiting the departure of convoy RA.59 for passage to the UK.

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, Russia, awaiting the departure of convoy RA.59 for passage to the UK. Russian officers watching flying operations on the carrier. © IWM (A 23580

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, Russia, Vice Admiral Levchenko with his son, a Flag Lieutenant, on board the FENCER observing flight operations. IWM (A 23579)

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, Russia, awaiting the departure of convoy RA.59 for passage to the UK. Rear-Admiral Sir Rhoderick R. McGrigor (Rear Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron) greeting a number of Russian women taking a tour of the ship.

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, Russian dancers giving a dancing display during a concert in the hangar. © IWM (A 23578)

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, Russian sailors visiting the ship.

May 1944: FENCER at Kola Inlet, British sailors welcome Russian sailors visiting the ship.

May 1944: FENCER at sea on passage from Kola Inlet for the UK escorting convoy RA.59.

July 30th 1944: members of the deck crew shelter in the shade of Wildcat JV394 ('FX') which is on the catapult at readiness to launch. The pilot has an umbrella up as a sun shade whilr he reads a book in the cockpit. © IWM A 25068

The Air Staff Officer, Lieutenant Commander (A) J.M. Glaser, RN, briefing crews in the air operations room. © IWM (A 21859)

October 1944: Wildcat JV427 ('FW’) takes off from FENCER for a patrol. This is possibly the aborted Operation TENABLE or the redo Operation LYCIDAS; TRUMPETER can be seen off the port bow. © IWM (A 26134)

852 squadron joins the ship October1944

October 1944: Avengers from 852 squadron embarking from RNAS Hatston. This is possibly the aborted Operation TENABLE or the redo Operation LYCIDAS. © IWM (A 26134)

October 1944: Avengers from 852 squadron embarking from RNAS Hatston. This is possibly the aborted Operation TENABLE or the redo Operation LYCIDAS. © IWM (A 26133)

October 1944: Avenger FN833 ('2M’) from 852 Squadron launching from FENCER. This is possibly the aborted Operation TENABLE or the redo Operation LYCIDAS. © IWM (A 26132)

Allocated to the British Pacific Fleet as a Ferry Carrier November 1944 – Mary 1945

c. November 1944: FENCER seen from STRIKER on passage to Australia, via Gibraltar and Ceylon. Each carrier has a deck cargo of Mosquito fighter bombers belonging to 618 squadron RAF.

c. November 1944: FENCER seen from STRIKER on passage to Australia, via Gibraltar and Ceylon. The small convoy is in line astern with the accompanying destroyers being led by FENCER.

c. Christmas 1944: FENCER (Left) &STRIKER (Right) alongside at Williamstown, Victoria, to unload the men and aircraft of 618 squadron RAF before proceeding on to Sydney where they were assigned to 30 ACS, as part of the Fleet Train of the British Pacific Fleet.

c. February 1945: FENCER at Cochin, she is loading cargo ferried out to her by two Landing Carat from “D" L.C.T. Squadron. She has at least 3 Sea Otter amphibian aircraft on her flight deck. (1)

c. February 1945: FENCER at Cochin, she is loading cargo ferried out to her by two Landing Carat from “D" L.C.T. Squadron. She has at least 3 Sea Otter amphibian aircraft on her flight deck. (2)

c. February 1945: FENCER at Cochin on a ferry run, She has at least 3 Sea Otter amphibian aircraft on her flight deck.

Conversion for duty as a troop ship November – December 1945

FENCER passing through the Suez Canal on one of her trooping voyages.

FENCER entering Grand harbour, Malta (1)

FENCER entering Grand harbour, Malta (2)

The ship’s company at Ceylon, date unknown. Judging from the size of her crew, this picture was probably taken in Colombo during one of her three trooping voyages to Ceylon.