HMS Ravager

HMS Ravager was an Attacker class escort carrier that was used for deck landing training for most of its service career. She was built by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp, launched in July 1942 and completed in April 1943.

HMS Ravager from the air
HMS Ravager from the air
On 2 July 1943 No.846 Squadron and its Avengers embarked on the Ravager in the US, then escorted an eastbound convoy across the Atlantic, arriving in late July. Ravager then spent some time in a British port being modified to Royal Navy standards.

The Ravager began its career as a deck landing training carrier in the third quarter of 1943, operating alongside HMS Argus in the Clyde. The quarterly reports on Naval Aviation produced for the War Cabinet recorded the numbers of pilots who had qualified in deck landing or who had undergone refresher courses from then until the end of the war, although don't distinguish between the various carriers used for the role.

Period

Newly Qualified

Refresher Courses

Carriers Involved

August-October 1943

226

60

Argus, Ravager

November 1943-January 1944

217

65

Argus, Ravager

February-April 1944

224

85

Argus, Ravager

May-July 1944

275

20

Argus, Ravager, relieved for short periods by Trumpeter, Khedive, Rajah

August-October 1944

290

17

Argus, Ravager to mid September, then Speaker, Ravager

November 1944-January 1945

281

88

Speaker, Slinger, Ranee, Trouncer, Ravager

February-April 1945

375

72

Ravager, Smiter joined by Battler towards end of period

May-July 1945

452

26

Ravager, Puncher, Battler, Premier

A number of squadrons were officially based on the Ravager to carry out their training, including No.835 (Sea Hurricane) between September and November 1943, No.1833 Squadron (Corsair II) in November-December 1943, No.1834 Squadron (Corsair) in the first half of February 1944 and No.1771 Squadron (Fairey Firefly) during the summer of 1944. Other pilots trained with No.761 Squadron, the advanced training squadron of the Fleet Fighter School.

The Ravager was returned to the US Navy on 27 February 1946 and sold off as a merchantman.

Squadrons

No.835 NAS

The Sea Hurricane IIcs of No.835 Squadron's fighter flight were detached to Ravager from Battler at the end of September 1943, but were gone by mid-November.

No.846 NAS

No.846 Squadron and its Avenger Is embarked on Ravager on 2 July 1943, disembarking on 28 July in the UK.

Displacement (loaded)

10,200t standard
14,170t deep load

Top Speed

18.5kts

Range

 

Length

491ft 7in to 496ft 1in oa

Armaments

18-24 aircraft
Two 4in/50 US Mk 9 guns in one two-gun mounting
Eight 40mm Bofors guns in four two-gun mountings

Crew complement

646

Launched

16 July 1942

Completed

26 April 1943

Returned to US

1946

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (26 August 2010), HMS Ravager , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_HMS_Ravager.html

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