1
9 4 2
December
Contractor's trials.
(Note: Radar
fitted was Type 79B for aircraft warning
and Type 271 for surface
warning. See
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.
HF D/F Outfit FH3 was fitted
for use in
determining position of wireless
transmissions.)
1
9 4 3
January
31st
Build completion.
On completion of conversion commissioned
for RN service as HMS TRACKER.
February
Carried cut trials and shakedown.
(Note: These
my have been completed at RCN Base at
Esquimalt, British Columbia.)
March
13th
Took passage from Seattle to New York..
23rd
Transit of Panama Canal
April
4th
Arrived in New York
Embarked US aircraft
for delivery to Casablanca.
May
3rd
Sailed from New York as part of US Convoy
UGF8
10th
Disembarked aircraft on arrival at
Casablanca
On completion sailed from Casablanca.
13th
Deployed at Gibraltar
30th
Sailed from Gibraltar
for UK as part of inward Convoy MKF15 to
Liverpool.
June
4th
Detached from MKF15 and took passage to
Belfast for refit.
Taken in hand for
modification to suit RN deployment for
convoy defence.
July
Under conversion
August
On completion carried out post refit
trials.
Embarked SWORDFISH and
SEAFIRE aircraft and personnel OF 816
Squadron.
Commenced work-up in Clyde for operational
service in Clyde area
September
2nd
Deployed for deck landing training of 768
Squadron in Clyde
(Note:
Aircraft of 768 Sq1uadron had been in HM
Fleet Aircraft Carrier ARGUS.)
23rd
Deployed in NW Approaches with 816
Squadron embarked to carry out
anti-submarine
operations in
conjunction with Support Groups in NW
Approaches.
(Note: For
details of allied and enemy weapons and
tactics used in the Atlantic
see SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann,
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by
J Terraine,
THE BATTLE Of
THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre
and U-BOAT WAR
IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO).)
30th
Provided anti-submarine cover for passage
of inward Convoy HX258 from Halifax and
outward ON203
to Newfoundland.
October
Returned to Clyde.
2nd
Deployed with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE for
defence of outward Convoy ONB207.
25th
Transferred to provide anti-submarine
cover for inward Convoy HX262.
(Note: Known
assembly of SIEGFRIED and KORNER U-Boat
Groups were being used to
make attacks on
Convoys ON207, ON208, HX262, HX263, HX264,
SC145 and
ONS21)
28th
Deployed with HX262 and launched air
patrols during refuelling of escorts.
29th
Transferred to provide anti-submarine
cover for passage of inward Convoys ON209
and
HX263.
November
Deployment with 2nd Escort Group in
continuation.
1st
Experienced severe weather which limited
flying operations after damage to several
aircraft.
Transferred to south
to operate in better weather
conditions.
5th
Aircraft launched to investigate area
found by intercepted U-Boat radio
transmissions.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.
6th
Under attack by U262 which was detected by
HMS KITE and sunk
by ships of 2nd
Support Group.
U842 was later sighted by ship’s aircraft
and later sunk by ships of Support Group
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.)
7th
Provided anti-submarine air cover for
passage of inward Convoy HX268.
8th
Under torpedo attack by U648 with
Acoustic GNAT torpedoes which missed.
Support Group ships anti-submarine search
was unsuccessful.
Took passage to Argentia,
Newfoundland to refuel
Delayed by heavy weather
11th
Further delay by fog off Newfoundland.
12th
Under repair to Machinery defects at Argentia.
23rd
Sailed from Argentia
to Norfolk Va.
28th
Under machinery repair at Norfolk.
December
5th
Sailed from Norfolk
to resume anti-submarine operations.
15th
Provided anti-submarine air cover in
support of passage of inward Convoy
HX270.
28th
Disembarked 8165 Squadron aircraft and
personnel.
1
9 4 4
January
5th
Embarked 846 Squadron AVENGER aircraft
and personnel.
Deployed to work-up Squadron for
operational service,
15th
Under defect repair in Clyde
shipyard.
February
13th
On completion sailed with sister ship HMS
BITER to provide anti-submarine defence
in conjunction
with 2nd Support Group.
Launched air patrol to carry out patrols
in defence of outward joint Convoy
OS68/KMS43 and outward
ONS29.
March
2nd
Provided anti-submarine air cover for
passage of joint inward Convoy
SL150/MKS41
with HMS BITER.
13th
Arrived in Clyde
for machinery repairs.
Nominated for service
in Home Fleet on completion.
25th
Sailed from Clyde for Scapa Flow.
29th
Deployed as part of main escort for Convoy
JW58 to Kola Inlet with HM Cruiser
DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
ACTIVITY, HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,
INCONSTANT, OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLOW,
OPPORTUNE, ORIBI, ORWELL,
SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS,
SCORPION, VENUS and Norwegian STORD.
(Operation FY)
(Note: For
details of all Russian Convoy operations
see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA
by RA Ruegg,
CONVOY! by P
Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman
and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B Schoefield.
2nd Escort Group was also deployed for
support of this operation.)
April
4th
Detached from JW58 on arrival in Kola
Inlet.
7th
Joined return Convoy RA57 with HM
Destroyers IMPULSIVE, SCORPION, ORWELL,
HM Corvettes BLUEBELL and HONEYSUCKLE, HM
Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE,
WHIMBREL, WREN, and
WILD GOOSE to supplement escort to Loch
Ewe.
14th
Detached from RA58 and took passage to
Belfast.
15th
Under repair to damage caused when
aircraft had crashed on deck.
29th
Deployed for anti-submarine search in
support of passage of Atlantic convoys.
May
3rd
Provided air cover in support of 1st and
2nd Support Groups during passage o
Convoy UC21
6th
Passage to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet
deployment
Nominated for support of allied landings
in Normandy after refit
(Operation NEPTUNE).
(For details of naval activities prior to
and during the operation see OPERATION
NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,
JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)
9th
Taken in hand for refit
On completion resumed Home Fleet
deployment.
June
3rd
Sailed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
PURSUER and EMPEROR to position about
130 miles west of Lands End to prevent any
attempt by German submarines to enter
Channel area to attack invasion convoys.
(Note: Escort
Carriers were attached to Support Groups
of Sloops and Frigates
of Western
Approaches Command for this operation
which was particularly
successful. See
above references.)
10th
Involved in collision with HM Frigate TEME
and sustained damage
11th
Disembarked 846 Squadron aircraft to
RNAS LIMAVADI, Ulster.
12th
Arrived at Belfast
for assessment of repair work.
Repair arranged at Liverpool
19th
Passage to Liverpool
Taken in hand for
repair.
July
Under repair.
to
August
September
Nominated for support of Russian convoy
transit on completion of post repair
Trials.
20th
Embarked 853 Squadron AVENGER aircraft and
personnel
Worked –up in Clyde area for operational
service.
October
Work-up completion delayed for repair.
5th
Under repair in Clyde
shipyard.
14th
Passage to rejoin Home Fleet
15th
Arrived at Scapa
Flow to resume Fleet service.
22nd
Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
NAIRANA and VINDEX with escort
of Convoy JW61
to Kola Inlet to provide anti-submarine
cover.
(Operation TRIAL)
(Note: HM
Frigates BYRON, CONN, DEANE, FITZROY,
INGLIS, LAWSON,
LORING, LOUIS, MOUNSEY, NARBROUGH, REDMILL
and RUPERT
provided
surface support.)
28th
Detached with above ships on arrival
after unscathed passage of mercantiles.
November
Nominated for loan service with US Navy
for deployment as a Ferry Carrier.
2nd
Deployed for support of return Convoy RA61
and positioned within convoy
7th
Arrived at Greenock after detaching with
other carriers before RA61
completed
passage at Loch Ewe
.
(Note: Convoy
RA61 arrived without loss. See
references.)
10th
Sailed from Clyde to New York.
December
Deployed for US Navy service.
(Note: Area
of deployment to be confirmed. It may have
been on east coast
of USA.
Nominated for service
in Pacific.
1
9 4 5
January
1st
Took passage to San
Diego via Panama.
Deployed at Long
Beach to embark aircraft.
29th
Sailed from Long Beach to US Navy Forward
base in operational area
February
US Navy Loan deployment as Ferry Carrier
for transport of aircraft for
to
US Pacific Fleet in continuation
June
July
Nominated for release from loan service
19th
Passage from Long
Beach to Panama.
21st
Transit of Panama
Canal.
22nd
Passage to Norfolk, Va
29th
Released from US Navy service and took
passage to UK
August
Arrived in Clyde
9th
Commenced de-storing and removal of
British equipment
Paid-off and reduced in Reserve status.
Laid-up in Clyde.