1
9 4 1
November
17th
Commissioned for
service as HMS ARCHER.
December
Carried
out acceptance trials in Hampton Roads
US
Army Air Force aircraft crashed on
landing due to hazard presented by
Diesel
exhaust
smoke.
Repair
to defects found during trials arranged
at Philadelphia Navy Yard
24th
Taken in hand at Philadelphia
for repair of defects
including propulsion machinery and gyro
equipment.
1
9 4 2
January
Nominated
for work-up for operational service in Caribbean
On
completion of repair took passage to NORFOLK,
Va
to embark aircraft for
transfer to
UK
12th
During passage to work-up involved in
collision with ss
BRAZOS
and sustained damage to
bow structure
requiring
further repair.
Passage to Charleston
under tow
by US Navy tug CHEROKEE.
(Note: US
CATALINA aircraft provided air cover.)
February
Under
repair at Charlestown Navy Yard
March
Allocated
for deployment based in Sierra
Leone
to provide air cover for
convoy defence
off West Africa.
19th
Embarked four SWORDFISH aircraft and
personnel of 834 Squadron.
(Note: 12
MARTLET aircraft airframes were carried
for
delivery to UK.
These
may have been those embarked at Norfolk
or subsequent change of
cargo
To
be confirmed.)
Took passage to Freetown.
(Note: Air
cover was provided for US AS Convoy to Ascension
Island
during part of transit
HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE
was deployed in this area to provide
cover for military
convoys on
passage to East
Africa
for planned landings in Madagascar.
April
4th
Arrived at Freetown.
Taken in hand for
repair to machinery defects on
passage.
May
13th
Sailed from Freetown
to carry out convoy defence
Diverted to go to Cape
Town
for
collection of bullion.
June
Passage to Freetown
with
bullion.
26th
Took passage from Freetown
to New
York
with call
at Bermuda.
July
On
arrival taken in hand for repairs to
machinery and modifications to improve
stowage
arrangements for stowage of aircraft
embarked for
transit.
August
Under
repair and modification.
to
October
November
2nd
On completion embarked 35 aircraft and
US personnel for passage to North Africa
13th
Joined military Convoy UGF2 in Hampton
Roads for passage to Casablanca
18th
Arrived at Casablanca
After
landing aircraft took passage to Gibraltar
19th
Deployed at Gibraltar
and awaited arrival of
military Convoy MKF3 from Algiers
Joined
MKF3 for passage to Liverpool
December
3rd
Detached from
MKF3 on arrival at Liverpool.
4th
Taken in hand at Liverpool
commercial shipyard to
complete modifications to suit RN
deployment.
Work
included extension of flight deck
1
9 4 3
January
Under
modification
(Note:
British radar outfits were fitted during
this
period.)
February
Nominated
for service in Western Approaches
Command.
17th
On completion worked-up for Atlantic
convoy defence
Embarked 819
Squadron SWORDFISH aircraft and
personnel. together
with
892 Squadron MARTLET
aircraft and personnel.
Deployed in Clyde
for
work-up with HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier BITER.
March
Joined
Western Approaches Command.
Deployed for
Atlantic convoy escort with HMS BITER
and HMS DASHER.
as
part of 4th
Support
Group with HM Destroyers MINE,
MATCHLESS, ECLIPSE and FURY as 4th
Support
Group.
20th
Deployed at Scapa
Flow
during Royal visit
(Note: One
source records ship was visited by HM
King George
VI.)
21st
Under defect
repair at Belfast
shipyard.
Transferred to Liverpool
shipyard
for completion of repair work.
April
Under repair in Liverpool.
On
completion of post repair trials took
passage to embark SWORDFISH aircraft
of 819
Squadron and MARTLET aircraft of 892
Squadron with
personnel.
(Note:
Rocket Projectiles were fitted to
SWORDFISH aircraft for attacks on
U-Boats
for first
time.)
May
2nd
Took passage from Clyde
to join ships of 4th Support
Group to provide anti-
submarine
patrols in support of surface
operations.
Deployed with Group
for Atlantic convoy defence.
(Note:
Support Group consisted of HM Destroyers
MILNE,
ECLIPSE and
FURY
21st
Joined Convoy HX239 with ships of Group
to supplement defence against attacks
by U-Boats of
MOSEL and DONAU Groups.
(Note: HX239
was escorted by HM Destroyers KEPPEL and
ESCAPADE, HM Frigate
TOWY and five
corvettes.)
23rd
SWORDFISH aircraft carried out depth
charge attack on U752 and came under
heavy
return fire
and submarine escaped.
Further
attack by SWORDFISH Aircraft G of 819
Squadron carried out with
Rocket
Projectiles
with support from MARTLET
aircraft B of 829 Squadron from
ship.
Submarine
sunk in position 51.48N 29.32W. 13
survivors from U-Boat were rescued
by HM
Destroyer ESCAPADE of B3 Group.
(See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp, ECHO
OF A FIGHTING FLOWER by P
Coy and HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair.
This was
first U-Boat sinking
by aircraft
from an RN Escort Carrier using Rocket
Projectiles.)
June
Deployed
in Bay
of
Biscay for interception of U-Boats on passage between French
bases and
Atlantic convoy routes with several
other RN
Escort and Support Groups.
RAF
Coastal Command aircraft also took part
and cover against surface attacks was
provided by
HM Cruisers BERMUDA
and GLASGOW
(Operations MUSKETRY and
SEASLUG).
(See
BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N Franks, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
by C Barnett,
U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) and HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR.)
27th
Carried out exercises with Group in Irish
Sea
before resuming Bay
of Biscay
deployment.
July
Deployed in Bay
of Biscay
for anti-submarine
interception patrol.
26th
Released from SEASLUG and took passage
to Plymouth.
28th
Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard
Devonport
August
Passage to Clyde
for major
repair to propulsion machinery in
commercial shipyard.
3rd
Arrived in Clyde
4th
Under repair
September
Under
repair
to
October
November
6th
Withdrawn from
operational service because of
unreliable propulsion machinery.
Reduced
to care and maintenance status in Clyde and used as an Accommodation and
Stores Ship.
September
Clyde
service in continuation.
to
December
1
9
4 4
January
Clyde
deployment
in continuation.
to
February
March
16th
Transferred to Loch Alsh
for use as an Accommodation Ship.
April
Accommodation
duty in continuation.
to
Nominated
for transfer to Ministry of War
Transport for use as an aircraft
July
Ferry after replacement
of main gearing.
Work arranged in
Belfast
shipyard
August
Under repair at Belfast
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under
repair and conversion for new role.
to
February
March
15th
Transferred to Ministry of War Transport
and renamed EMPIRE
LAGAN
April
Service
as EMPIRE LAGAN
to
August