View source for Attacker-class escort carrier

{{short description|1942 class of escort aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMSAttackerD02.jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Attacker''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Attacker'' class
|Builders=*4 at [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]]
*4 at [[Western Pipe & Steel]]
*3 at [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]]
|Operators=[[Royal Navy]]
|Class before={{sclass|Avenger|escort carrier|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Ruler|escort carrier|4}}
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1941–1943
|In service range=
|In commission range=1942–1946
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=11
|Total ships completed=11
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships scrapped=3
|Total ships retired=8
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Escort carrier]]
|Ship displacement=
*{{cvt|10200|LT|lk=on|-1}} [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|(standard)]]
*{{cvt|14400|LT|-1}} [[Displacement (ship)#Loaded displacement|(full load)]]

|Ship length=
*{{convert|465|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Waterline length|wl]])
*{{convert|496|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|oa]])
*{{convert|440|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Flight deck|fd]])

|Ship beam=
*{{cvt|69|ft|6|in}} wl
*{{cvt|82|ft}} (fd)
*{{cvt|111|ft|6|in}} (extreme width)

|Ship draught=
*{{cvt|23|ft|3|in}} (mean)
*{{cvt|26|ft}} (deep load)
|Ship power=
*2 × [[Water-tube boiler#Babcock & Wilcox boiler|Foster-Wheeler]] {{cvt|285|psi|lk=on}} boilers 
*{{cvt|8500|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
*1 × [[General Electric]] or [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]] [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]]
*1 × [[Propeller|Screw]]
|Ship speed={{cvt|18|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship complement=646
|Ship sensors=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[4-inch/50-caliber gun|{{cvt|4|in}}/50 caliber guns]] in single mounts
*8 × [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft gun]] in twin mounts
*21 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon cannons]] in single and twin mounts
|Ship aircraft=20
|Ship aircraft facilities=*Flight deck {{convert|442|by|88|ft}}
*[[Hangar]] {{convert|262|by|62|ft}}
*2 × {{convert|42|by|34|ft|adj=on}} lifts
*9 arrestor wires
}}
|}

The '''''Attacker'' class''' were a [[Ship class|class]] of [[escort carrier|escort aircraft carriers]] in service with the British [[Royal Navy during the Second World War]].

The [[United States Navy]] had acquired 22 [[Type C3-class ship|C3 cargo ships]] shortly after the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]] to be converted into the {{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier|4}}. With an increasing need for [[convoy]] escorts in the North Atlantic eleven of these were transferred to the Royal Navy, and reclassified as ''Attacker'' class, under the terms of the [[Lend-Lease]] program.

The ships were originally intended to serve as convoy escort carriers, equipped with both [[anti-submarine]] and [[fighter aircraft]], and transport carriers, transferring new and replacement aircraft to forward bases. During successful use during the amphibious [[Operation Torch|invasion of North Africa]] to cover advancing ground units until land airbases were secured, several ships were refit as [[Strike fighter|strike carriers]], equipped with just fighter aircraft. When used as convoy escorts, the ships' aircraft were successful in deterring German submarines from attacking Allied convoys, with a number of German submarines and aircraft destroyed or damaged by the aircraft. Those carriers operating in the strike role took part in two major landings in the [[Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of World War II|Mediterranean]] and an operation against the {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz}} in Norwegian waters. Eight of the ships ended the war in the Far East in the campaigns against the [[Japanese Empire]] and were then used to transport home prisoners of war.

All eleven ships survived the war and were eventually returned to the [[United States Navy]], which sold eight of them for conversion back into merchant ships. The other three ships were scrapped.

==Design and description==
After the [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]], the [[United States Navy]] acquired 22 [[Type C3-class ship|C3 merchant ships]] that were in varying states of construction, to be converted into [[escort carrier]]s. Eleven of these were transferred to the [[Royal Navy]] as the ''Attacker'' class, while the 11 retained by the US were named the {{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier|4}}.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=79}}{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=344}} They were all [[Keel laying|laid down]] in 1941 and 1942, with [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]] and [[Western Pipe & Steel]] building four each and [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]] erecting the additional three, and supplied under the terms of the [[Lend-Lease]] program.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=79}}

The ships had a standard complement of 646 officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]]. Crew accommodations were significantly different from the normal for the Royal Navy at the time. Instead of food being prepared by separate [[mess]]es, it was cooked in the [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]] and served [[cafeteria]]-style in a central dining area. Unlike British-built ships, they were equipped with [[air conditioning]], a modern laundry and a barber shop. The traditional [[hammock]]s were replaced by three-tier bunk beds, with 18 to a cabin, which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|pp=74–75}}

The ships had a [[waterline length]] of {{cvt|465|ft}} with an [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{cvt|495|ft|8|in}}. Their [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] was {{cvt|69|ft|6|in}} at the [[waterline]] and a maximum beam of {{cvt|111|ft|6|in}}. The [[Draft (hull)|draught]] was {{cvt|24|ft|8|in}} at full load and {{cvt|21|ft}} at light load. They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|7800|LT|t|lk=on}} at standard load and {{cvt|14170|LT|t}} at [[full load]].{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}}

Power was provided by two [[Babcock & Wilcox boiler|Foster and Wheeler]] boilers feeding steam to a [[General Electric]] [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine engine]] connected to a single [[propeller|shaft]], giving {{cvt|8500|bhp|lk=on}}, which could propel the ship at {{cvt|18|kn}}.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|pp=80–81}}

[[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A16649.jpg|thumb|left|On {{HMS|Battler|D18|6}}, a [[Fairey Swordfish]] comes on deck via the aircraft lift. The ship's 'Island' [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and flight control is in the background.]]
All the escort carriers had the capacity for up to 20 [[anti-submarine]] or [[fighter aircraft]], which could be a mixture of the British [[Hawker Sea Hurricane]], [[Supermarine Seafire]], and [[Fairey Swordfish]], and the American [[Grumman Wildcat]], [[Vought F4U Corsair]] and [[Grumman Avenger]].{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}} The exact composition of the embarked squadrons depended upon the mission. Some squadrons were composite squadrons for convoy defence, and would be equipped with anti-submarine and fighter aircraft,{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=98}} while other squadrons working in a strike-carrier role would only be equipped with fighter aircraft.{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=342}} When utilised in ferry service the ships could carry up to 90 aircraft between both the [[flight deck|flight]] and [[Hangar#Hangars aboard ships|hangar decks]]. Aircraft facilities consisted of a small combined bridge–flight control on the [[starboard]] side above the flight deck that measured {{cvt|442|×|88|ft}}. There were nine [[Arresting gear|arresting wires]] and three barriers at the stern of the ship, along with one [[Aircraft catapult|hydraulic catapult]] at the bow which was able to launch a {{cvt|3.5|t}} aircraft at {{cvt|61|kn}}. The hangar deck was {{cvt|262|×|62|ft}}, which was larger than previous escort carriers, but retained the [[Camber (ship)|camber]] at the bow and stern of the main deck of the merchant ships they were built on. Because the elevators were placed at the ends of the flight deck, pulleys were required for handling planes on and off of the elevators on the hangar deck, which was difficult in normal conditions, and impossible in rough seas.{{sfn|Konstam|2019|p=26}}

The ships were delivered with [[5-inch/51-caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|adj=on}}/51 calibre guns]] mounted on [[sponson]]s located on either side of the stern. These were replaced with older [[4-inch/50-caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|adj=on}}/50 calibre Mk 9]] surface guns because they were compatible with British ammunition.{{sfn|Konstam|2019|p=27}} The ships' [[anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence consisted of eight [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|{{convert|40|mm|adj=on}} Bofors AA guns]] in twin mounts, and eight [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|adj=on}} Oerlikon AA cannon]] in twin and ten in single mounts as the standard fit.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}} In practice all the ships had slightly different weapons mounted. ''Attacker'', ''Chaser'', and ''Hunter'' only had four single 20&nbsp;mm AA cannon, the rest being double mounts. Of the other ships, ''Battler'' had two, ''Stalker'' had six, and ''Fencer'' had seven single 20&nbsp;mm cannon. ''Pursuer'' had four extra 40&nbsp;mm AA guns, and ''Striker'' had six extra in place of twin 20&nbsp;mm mounts.{{sfn|Friedman|1988|p=188}}

[[File:Twin 40mm bofors gun on escort carrier.jpg|thumb|A twin [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|40&nbsp;mm Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft gun]] mounting]]
After arriving in Great Britain, in addition to having their 5-inch guns changed out for 4-inch guns, they would have their aviation fuel bunkers reduced to {{cvt|44800|impgal}}, from {{cvt|186286|usgal}}, for Royal Navy safety reasons, and [[HF/DF]] ("Huff/Duff") [[radio direction finder]]s (RDF) installed.{{sfn|Konstam|2019|p=27}}

{{clear}}

==Service history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Construction data
|-
! scope="col" | RN Name
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Pennant no.|Pennant number}}
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" | Laid down
! scope="col" | Launched
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Attacker|D02|2}}
| D02
|''Steel Artisan''<br>
''Barnes''&nbsp;(ACV-7)
| [[Western Pipe and Steel Company|Western Pipe]], San Francisco, California
| 17 April 1941
| 27 September 1941
| 10 October 1942
| Returned 5 January 1946, later SS ''Castel Forte''
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Battler|D18|2}}
| D18
|''Mormacmail''<br>
''Altamaha''&nbsp;(ACV-6)
| [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]], [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]]
| 15 April 1941
| 4 April 1942
| 15 November 1942
| Scrapped 1946–48
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Chaser|D32|2}}
| D32
| ''Mormacgulf''<br>
''Breton''&nbsp;(ACV-10)
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
| 28 June 1941
| 15 January 1942
| 9 April 1943
| Returned 12 May 1946, SS ''Aagtekerk''
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Fencer|D64|2}}
| D64
| ''Croatan'' (ACV-14)
| Western Pipe, San Francisco, California
| 5 September 1941
| 4 April 1942
| 20 February 1943
| Returned 11 December 1946, SS ''Sydney''
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Hunter|D80|2}}
| D80
| ''Mormacpenn''<br>
''Block Island''&nbsp;(ACV-8)
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
| 15 May 1941
| 22 May 1942
| 11 January 1943
| Returned 29 December 1946, SS ''Almdijk''
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Pursuer|D73|2}}
| D73
| ''Mormacland''<br>
''St. George''&nbsp;(ACV-17)
| Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
| 31 July 1941
| 18 July 1942
| 14 June 1943
| Scrapped 1946–48
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Ravager|D70|2}}
| D70
| ''ACV-24''
| [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]], Tacoma, Washington
| 11 April 1942
| 16 July 1942
| 25 April 1943
| Sold into merchant service as SS ''Robin Trent''. Scrapped in 1973.
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Searcher|D40|2}}
| D40
| ''ACV-22''
| Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington
| 20 February 1942
| 20 June 1942
| 7 April 1943
| Sold into merchant service as SS ''Captain Theo''. Scrapped in 1976.
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Stalker|D91|2}}
| D91
| ''Hamlin'' (ACV-14)
| Western Pipe, San Francisco, California
| 6 October 1941
| 5 March 1942
| 30 December 1943
| Returned 29 December 1945, SS ''Riouw''
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Striker|D12|2}}
| D12
| ''Prince William'' (ACV-19)
| Western Pipe, San Francisco, California
| 15 December 1941
| 7 May 1942
| 29 April 1943
| Scrapped 1946–48
|-
! scope="row" | {{HMS|Tracker|D24|2}}
| D24
|''Mormacmail''<br>
''BACV-6''
| Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington
| 3 November 1941
| 7 March 1942
| 31 January 1943
| Sold into merchant service as SS ''Corrientes''. Scrapped in 1964.
|}

===Convoy escorts===
[[File:HMS Fencer clearing snow.jpg|thumb|left|The snow-covered deck of {{HMS|Fencer|D64|6}}, May 1944]]
Escort carriers were designed to accompany other ships, forming the escort for [[convoy]]s.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=155}} The anti-submarine aircraft employed were initially Fairey Swordfish and later Grumman Avengers, which could be armed with torpedoes, [[depth charge]]s, {{convert|250|lb|adj=on}} bombs, or the [[RP-3]] rocket projectile.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=135}} As well as carrying out their own attacks on U-boats, these aircraft identified target locations for the convoy's escorts to attack.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=147}} Typically anti-submarine patrols would be flown between dawn and dusk. One aircraft would fly about {{convert|10|mi}} ahead of the convoy, while another patrolled astern. Patrols would last between two and three hours, using both [[radar]] and visual observation in their search for U-boats.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=79}} By 1944, it was usual to have two escort carriers working as a pair on convoy escort. Experience had shown it was best to have two composite squadrons. One squadron included fighters and the by then obsolete Fairey Swordfish equipped with air-to-surface vessel (ASV) radar for night patrols. The other squadron would be equipped with fighters and the Grumman Avenger for long-range day patrols, as they could not be fitted with the ASV radar.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=118}}

[[File:Fairey Swordfish lifst off from .HMS Strikerj.jpg|thumb|A [[Fairey Swordfish]] takes off from {{HMS|Striker|D12|2}} on an anti-submarine patrol.]]
The [[Fleet Air Arm]] squadrons flying off the ''Attacker''-class escort carriers did have some successes of their own. The first of six confirmed U-boats destroyed by aircraft flying off ''Attacker'' class ships was on 10 February 1944, when two Fairey Swordfish from the [[842 Naval Air Squadron]] on board {{HMS|Fencer|D64|2}} sank {{GS|U-666||2}} west of Iceland.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=147}}{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=116}} On 4 March, while on [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic convoy patrol]], Fairey Swordfish from [[816 Naval Air Squadron]] on board {{HMS|Chaser|D32|2}} so severely damaged {{GS|U-472||2}} with a salvo of RP-3 rockets that she could not submerge and was sunk by {{HMS|Onslaught|G04|6}}. For the rest of the day ''Chaser''{{'}}s Fairey Swordfish kept the U-boats at bay by identifying their locations to her escorts. They also damaged two other U-boats themselves.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=147}}{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=127}} The {{GS|U-366||2}} was sunk by RP-3 rockets fired from a Fairey Swordfish on 5 March,{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=147}} and the {{GS|U-973||2}} on 6 March. Three other U-boats sighted managed to evade an attack in foggy conditions.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=148}}{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=128}}
Operating from ''Fencer'', 842 Squadron sank their second submarine, {{GS|U-277||2}}, on 1 May, and sank {{GS|U-959||2}} and {{GS|U-674||2}} on 2 May 1944.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|pp=146–148}}

[[File:Grumman Wildcat on HMS Pursuer.jpg|thumb|left|[[Grumman Wildcat]] being prepared for take off from {{HMS|Pursuer|D73|2}}]]
The carriers' aircraft could also claim some success against the [[Luftwaffe]]'s long-range bombers. On 1 December 1943, two Grumman Wildcats from 842 Naval Air Squadron on board ''Fencer'' shot down a [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200]] that was shadowing  [[Convoy OS 60]].{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=109}} The next confirmed air-to-air success came on 24 February 1944, when four Grumman Wildcats from [[881 Naval Air Squadron]] on board ''Pursuer'' were scrambled after the ship's radar had identified at least three aircraft approaching. The approaching bombers consisted of a mixed force of seven Focke-Wulf Fw 200 and [[Heinkel He 177]]s carrying [[glider bombs]]. One Fw 200 and one He 177 were shot down by Grumman Wildcats. The rest of the Germans kept their distance due to the combined efforts of the fighters and the ships' anti-aircraft fire.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=117}}  Off [[Cape Finisterre]] in March 1944, Grumman Wildcat fighters from ''Pursuer'' shot down a Heinkel He 177 and a Focke-Wulf Fw 200, and damaged a Fw 200.{{sfn|IWM|2013a}}See also {{sfn|IWM|2013b}}

In August 1944, the Arctic convoys had started again, the first one being escorted by ''Striker'' and {{HMS|Vindex|D15|6}}, a British-built escort carrier. On board ''Striker'' was [[824 Naval Air Squadron]] with twelve Fairey Swordfish IIs, ten Grumman Wildcat Vs, and two spares. The Grumman Wildcats shot down a [[Blohm & Voss BV 138]] on 22 August. For [[Operation Neptune]] from 5 June 1944 to the middle of the month, five all-fighter escort carriers, including ''Fencer'', provided air cover to protect the anti-submarine groups on the flanks of the Normandy invasion fleet.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|pp=142–143}}

===Strike operations===
[[File:Supermarine Seafire.jpg|thumb|[[Supermarine Seafire]] flying above {{HMS|Royalist|89|6}}]]
During the [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|Salerno landings]], Force V, commanded by [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[Philip Vian]] and consisting of {{HMS|Attacker|D02|2}}, {{HMS|Battler|D18|2}}, {{HMS|Hunter|D80|2}}, and {{HMS|Stalker|D91|2}}, along with the light fleet carrier {{HMS|Unicorn|I72|2}}, provided air cover. The five carriers were expected to keep a fighter aircraft force of 22 Supermarine Seafires over the landing area until the ground forces had seized an Italian airfield for use by ground-based aircraft.{{sfn|Speller|2004|p=99}} On the first day, 9 September 1943, they flew 265 sorties. They had expected to be relieved by 10 September, but a suitable airfield was not captured until 12 September. Of the carriers' 105 fighters, ten were lost in action and 33 written off in accidents. In exchange, they claimed two German aircraft destroyed and four others probably destroyed.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=91–92}} For the [[Operation Dragoon|landings in the south of France]] on 15 August 1944, ''Attacker'', ''Stalker'', and ''Hunter'', each equipped with 24 Supermarine Seafires and ''Pursuer'', with 24 Grumman Wildcats, formed part of the aircraft carrier force dubbed [[Task Force 88 (Operation Dragoon)|Task Force 88]].{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=342}}

The success of the Allied navies against U-boats in the Atlantic forced the Germans to move some of them into the Indian Ocean. To counter this threat, a task force was formed with HMS ''Battler'', the [[cruiser]]s {{HMS|Suffolk|55|2}} and {{HMS|Newcastle|C76|2}}, and the [[destroyer]]s {{HMS|Quadrant||2}} and {{HMS|Roebuck|H95|2}}. Their objective was to locate and destroy the U-boats and their supply ships and protect the shipping lanes between India, Aden, and South Africa. In March 1944, one of ''Battler''{{'}}s planes sighted the German supply ship ''Brake'' and three surfaced U-boats. They guided the ''Roebuck'' to the supply ship, which was [[scuttled]] by her captain. The three U-boats submerged before the start of the action.{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=278}}

[[File:Grumman Avenger.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Grumman Avenger]] returning from the [[Bodø]] shipping raid]]
In April 1944, aircraft from ''Fencer'' and {{HMS|Pursuer|D73|2}} took part in [[Operation Tungsten]]: the attack on the {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz}} in the [[Kåfjord, Alta|Kaafjord]] and at [[Tromsø]].{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=146}} [[Fairey Barracuda]] bombers from {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}} were escorted by Supermarine Seafires, Vought Corsairs, [[Grumman Hellcat]]s, and from the two escort carriers, Grumman Wildcats. The Hellcats carried out attacks on the anti-aircraft defences and the Wildcats attacked the ''Tirpitz'' with machine gun fire, just prior to the Fairey Barracudas bombing run.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=12}} ''Tirpitz'' was hit multiple times during the attack, killing over 100, and wounding over 300, of her crew. There was some damage to her superstructure but no bombs pierced the armoured deck.{{sfn|IWM|2013c}}See also {{sfn|IWM|2013d}}

On 26 April 1944, ''Pursuer''{{'}}s aircraft successfully attacked a German convoy off [[Bodø]] in northern Norway. The convoy consisted of four merchant ships and five escorts; of these, all the merchant ships and one of the escorts were bombed and three of the merchant ships were set on fire. At the same time, other aircraft bombed and set on fire a large merchant ship at Bodø Harbour.{{sfn|IWM|2013e}}See also {{sfn|IWM|2013f}}

On 6 May 1944, while on an anti-shipping sweep in the same area, Grumman Wildcats of [[882 Naval Air Squadron]] from ''Searcher'' shot down two Blohm&nbsp;&&nbsp;Voss&nbsp;BV&nbsp;138 seaplanes.{{sfn|Thomas|2007|p=62}}

[[File:HMS Chaser D32.jpg|thumb|''Chaser''{{'}}s flight deck is being used to transport replacement aircraft forward]]

Early in 1944, the trend was for the strike carrier to move eastwards. Firstly ''Attacker'', ''Hunter'', and ''Pursuer'' were sent to the [[Aegean Sea]] to conduct operations against Axis garrisons in the area. They then moved to the Indian Ocean, joining ''Fencer'' and ''Stalker'' in supporting the Allied armies in Burma. Here they supported the [[Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourteenth Army]] amphibious landings and interdicted Japanese shipping in the [[Bay of Bengal]] and the [[Straits of Malacca]]. As the war in the east progressed, the British and U.S. Pacific fleets combined. Two more ''Attacker''-class ships arrived in the area, ''Chaser'' and ''Striker''. These were used to ferry replacement aircraft for the other carriers, and after the Japanese surrender were given another role: repatriating prisoners of war.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=155}}

When the war was over, the surviving Lend-Lease ships were returned to the U.S. Navy, which now had a surplus of these ships, so some were sold into merchant service. HMS ''Attacker'' became ''Costel Forte'', HMS ''Chaser'' ''Aagtekerk'', HMS ''Fencer'' ''Sydney'', HMS ''Hunter'' ''Almdijk'', HMS ''Ravager'' ''Robin Trent'', HMS ''Searcher'' ''Captain Theo'', HMS ''Stalker'' ''Rionw'', and HMS ''Tracker'' ''Corrientes''. The other three ''Attacker''-class ships, HMS ''Battler'', HMS ''Pursuer'', and HMS ''Striker'', were not sold into merchant service; all three were scrapped between 1946 and 1948.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=155}}{{sfn|DANFS}}

==Battle honours==
All eleven ships were awarded [[battle honours]] by the Royal Navy.
* HMS ''Attacker'': Atlantic 1943–1944, Salerno 1943, South France 1944, Aegean 1944
* HMS ''Battler'': Atlantic 1942–1945, Salerno 1943
* HMS ''Chaser'': Atlantic 1943, Arctic 1944, Okinawa 1945
* HMS ''Fencer'': Atlantic 1943–1944, Norway 1944, Arctic 1944
* HMS ''Hunter'': Atlantic 1942–1944, Salerno 1943, South France 1944, Aegean 1944, Burma 1945, Malaya 1945
* HMS ''Pursuer'': Atlantic 1943–1945, Norway 1944, Normandy 1944, South France 1944, Aegean 1944, Atlantic 1944, Norway 1945, Arctic 1945
* HMS ''Ravager'': Atlantic 1943
* HMS ''Searcher'': Atlantic 1943–1944, South France 1944, Aegean 1944, Norway 1944–1945
* HMS ''Stalker'': Atlantic 1943–1944, Salerno 1943, South France 1944, Aegean 1944, Burma 1945
* HMS ''Striker'': Atlantic 1943–1944, Arctic 1944, Norway 1944, Okinawa 1945
* HMS ''Tracker'': Atlantic 1943–1944, Arctic 1944, Normandy 1944{{sfn|FAAOA}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Konstam|first=Angus|year=2019|title=British Escort Carriers 1941-45|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1-4728-3625-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Cocker|first=Maurice|year=2008|title=Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy|publisher=The History Press|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|isbn=978-0-7524-4633-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|author-link= Norman Friedman|title=British Carrier Aviation: the Evolution of the Ships and their Aircraft|year=1988|publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]]|location=[[Annapolis, Maryland]]|isbn= 978-0-870-21054-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Morison|first=Samuel|year=2002|title=History of United States Naval Operations in World War II|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Urbana, Illinois|isbn=978-0-252-07062-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Poolman|first=Kenneth|year=1972|title=Escort Carrier 1941–1945|publisher=Ian Allan|location=London|isbn=0-7110-0273-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Speller|first=Ian|year=2004|title=The Royal Navy and Maritime Power in the Twentieth Century|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-0-415-35004-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Andrew|title=Royal Navy Aces of World War 2|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford|year=2007|isbn=978-1-84603-178-6}}
* {{cite web
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |work=archive.iwm.org.uk
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 22179)
  |url=http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17554
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423225934/http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17554
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-date=23 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013a}}
  }}
* {{cite web
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |year=2013
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 22179)
  |work=IWM Collection Search
  |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205119807
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013b}}
  }}
* {{cite web
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |work=archive.iwm.org.uk
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 22631)
  |url=http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17582
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423191009/http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17582
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-date=23 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013c}}
  }}
* {{cite web
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |year=2013
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 22631)
  |work=IWM Collection Search
  |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205186981
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013d}}
  }}
* {{cite web
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |work=archive.iwm.org.uk
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 23059)
  |url=http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17622
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423190942/http://archive.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conColObject.17622
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-date=23 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013e}}
  }}
* {{cite web
  |author=Imperial War Museum
  |year=2013
  |title=THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (A 23059)
  |work=IWM Collection Search
  |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205187023
  |access-date=3 April 2013
  |ref= {{sfnRef|IWM|2013f}}
  }}
* {{Cite DANFS| url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/altamaha-i.html | title=Altamaha I (AVG-6) | publisher=Naval Historical Center | date= 7 April 2020 | access-date= 4 January 2021 | ref= {{sfnRef|DANFS}}}}
* {{cite web| access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Fleet Air Arm Officers Association |title=Ships |url=http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/asp/fleetairarm.asp?ServiceType=1 |ref= {{sfnRef|FAAOA}}}}

==External links==
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-00-ClassInfo.htm#uscve Part 1, BATTLESHIPS, BATTLE CRUISERS, MONITORS, FLEET CARRIERS, ESCORT CARRIERS]

{{Bogue class escort carrier}}
{{WWII British ships|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Attacker Class Escort Carrier}}
[[Category:Bogue-class escort carriers| ]]
[[Category:Attacker-class escort carriers| ]]
[[Category:Escort aircraft carrier classes]]