1
9 4 4
January
Contractor's trials.
(Note:
Three US Navy Radar outfits were fitted
during build.
Type
SK for aircraft detection], Type SG for
surface warning and a fire
control radar
for Close Range AA armament. See RADAR
AT SEA
by D Howse.)
Completed or use as an Assault Carrier
to provide air support in
amphibious
operations
but never used in that role.)
February
18th
Transferred to Royal Navy and
commissioned as HMS
REAPER.
21st
Build completion and commenced sea
trials
March
Sea trials and shakedown in
continuation.
31st
Took passage to Esquimalt.
April
Taken in hand for commencement of
modification by HM Canadian Dockyard to
suit RN
service.)
May
Deployed at Esquimalt
24th
Sailed for San Francisco
(Note: Further trials and exercises on
passage to be confirmed.)
June
22nd
Took passage to Panama
July
Passage from Panama to Norfolk, Va.
7th
Arrived at Norfolk.
(Note:
Embarkation of aircraft for passage to
UK To be confirmed.)
22nd
Took passage to New York
25th
Sailed from New
York for Clyde with inward Convoy
HX301.
August
Detached from HX301 and took passage to
Greenock.
(Note: HX301 arrived in Liverpool on
8th)
5th
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde
commercial shipyard.
(Note:
Modification of petrol distribution
system to be confirmed.)
On completion embarked aircraft for
transport to Gibraltar.
25th
Joined outward Convoy KMF34 in NW
Approaches for passage to Gibraltar
(Note KM F34 sailed from Clyde on 24th..)
31st
Deployed at Gibraltar
to disembark aircraft.
September
10th
Joined inward Convoy MKF34 for Atlantic
passage to UK
(Note:
MKF34 sailed from Port
Said on 3rd September)
14th
Detached from MKF34 on arrival in Clyde.
Nominated for service as Ferry Carrier
27th
Took passage to Norfolk
to collect aircraft
(Note:
Independent passage to be confirmed.)
October
Embarked aircraft at Norfolk Navy Yard.
9th
Sailed from Norfolk
to New York
16th
Took passage from Hampton Roads, New
York with US inward Convoy UGF16
to Gibraltar
25th
Disembarked aircraft at Gibraltar
(Note:
UGF16 arrived at Naples
on 28th.)
November
1st
Passage from Gibraltar
with US outward Convoy GUF15B from
Naples.
Detached from GUF15B and made
independent passage to Norfolk
Va
(Note:
GUF15B arrived at Hampton Roads on 7th.)
Deployed at Norfolk
Navy Yard.
18th
Sailed from Norfolk
to New York to embark aircraft
22nd
Embarked 36 CORSAIR aircraft at New
York for transport to UK.
23rd
Took passage to Belfast
from New York.
December
5th
Disembarked aircraft at Belfast.
Passage to Greenock.
9th
Sustained damage in collision with
mercantile ss
TEGELBURG in Clyde.
Repair arranged in Clyde shipyard
Under repair.
1
9 4 5
January
Nominated for detached service as Ferry
Carrier for transport of US aircraft
in Pacific.
5th
On completion of repair took passage to
Panama.
20th
Passage in Pacific
Ocean to San Diego
29th
Deployed at San
Diego for US Navy detached service as
Ferry Carrier in Pacific
February
Deployed in Pacific for transport of US
aircraft from west coast ports.
to
April
May
Nominated for return to UK
On release from detached service took
passage to New
York.
13th
Deployed at New
York
Passage to Clyde
from New York.
25th
Arrived in Clyde
Nominated for refit at Rosyth and took
passage to Forth
31st
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Rosyth.
June
Under refit
to
Nominated for service in 30th Aircraft
Carrier Squadron, Pacific Fleet.
July
August
On completion of refit embarked aircraft
and took passage to join Squadron in
BPF.