The escort aircraft carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the US Navy or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy in the Second World War. They were typically half the length and one-third the displacement of the larger fleet carriers. While they were slower, less armed, unarmoured and carried fewer aircraft, they were less expensive and could be built more quickly. This was their principal advantage, as escort carriers could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. The lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier (hull classification symbol CVL) was a similar concept to escort carriers in most respects, but they were designed for higher speeds for deployment with fleet carriers.
Escort carriers were too slow to keep up with the main forces consisting of fleet carriers, battleships, and cruisers. Instead, they were used to defend convoys from enemy threats such as submarines and planes. In the invasions of mainland Europe and Pacific islands, escort carriers provided air support to ground forces during amphibious operations. Escort carriers also served as backup aircraft transports for fleet carriers and ferried aircraft of all military services to points of delivery.
In addition, escort carriers such as HMS Vindex and HMS Nairana played an important role in hunter-killer anti-submarine sweeps in company with RN and RCN destroyers, frigates and corvettes (e.g. 6th Canadian Escort Group and 2nd British Escort Group). HMS Vindex is credited with the sinking, or taking part in the sinking, of four U-boats (U344, U653, U765, U394).(1) "Escort Carrier" by Kenneth Poolman; (2) http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3298.html; (3) Wikipedia
Escort carriers should not be confused with the Merchant Aircraft Carrier or CAM ship.
Key Main guns The number and type of the main battery guns Displacement Ship displacement at full combat load Propulsion Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated Service The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate Laid down The date the keel began to be assembled Commissioned The date the ship was commissioned
List Audacity
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service ConvertedCommissionedFate 82 diesels, 1 shaft194117 June 1941Sunk by torpedoes from U-751 21 December 1941
Long Island class
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion ServiceConvertedCommissionedFate 16 4 x diesels driving 1 shaft194118 November 1941Became Empire Lagan 1946
Avenger class
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service ConvertedCommissionedFate 152 diesels, 1 shaft27 November 19402 March 1942Torpedoed and sunk west of Gibraltar by U-155 on 15 November 1942 152 diesels, 1 shaft8 December 19401 May 1942.Sold to France and renamed Dixmude 1945152 diesels, 1 shaft12 April 19411 July 1942Destroyed by an aviation fuel explosion on 27 March. 1943
Attacker class
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service Laid downCommissionedFate 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft15 April 194115 November 1942Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft17 April 194110 October 1942Returned to the USN on 5 January 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft22 May 194211 January 1943Returned to the USN on 29 December 1945242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft28 June 19419 April 1943Returned to the USN on 12 May 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft5 September 194120 February 1943Returned to the USN on 11 December 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft6 October 194130 December 1942Returned to the USN on 29 December 1945 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft31 July 194114 June 1943Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft15 December 194129 April 1943Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft20 February 19427 April 1943Returned to the USN on 29 November 1945242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft11 April 1942 26 April 1943Returned to the USN on 26 February 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft3 November 194131 January 1943Returned to the USN on 29 November 1945
Ruler class
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service Laid downCommissionedFate 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft25 May 194211 August 1943Returned to the USN on 27 February 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft9 June 194231 July 1943Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft23 June 19426 August 1943Returned to the USN on 4 February 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft18 July 194220 July 1943Returned to the USN on 17 January 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft3 August 1942 2 August 1943Returned to the USN on 4 January 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft25 August 19424 August 1943Returned to the USN on 6 April 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft9 September 19429 August 1943Returned to the USN on 4 February 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft30 December 194225 August 1943Returned to the USN on 26 January 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft9 October 194220 November 1943Returned to the USN on 17 July 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft20 October 1942 7 September 1943, into the Royal Canadian Navy under Royal Navy controlReturned to USN 16 March 1945 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft31 October 19423 November 1943Returned to the USN on 2 April 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft13 November 194227 September 1943Returned to the USN on 6 December 1945242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft27 November 194225 October 1943Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft17 December 194217 January 1944Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft5 January 19438 November 1943Returned to the USN on 21 November 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft 1 January 194331 January 1944Returned to the USN 3 March 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft22 February 194319 November 1943Returned to the USN on 5 December 1945242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft12 March 19437 December 1943Returned to the USN on 31 October 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft 21 March 194322 December 1943 Returned to the USN on 29 January 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft26 April 194331 December 1943Returned to the USN on 3 March 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft10 May 194320 January 1944Returned to the USN on 6 April 1946 242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft21 May 19435 February 1944, into the Royal Canadian Navy under Royal Navy controlReturned to the USN on 16 January 1946242 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft5 June 194321 February 1944Returned to the USN on 20 May 1946
Activity
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service Laid downCommissionedFate 102 × diesel engines1 February 19401944Sold in March 1946
Nairana class
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service Laid downCommissionedFate 15–202 sets 5-cylinder Doxford Diesels. 2 shafts20 May 194312 December 1943Transferred to Netherlands 20 March 1946 15–201 July 19423 December 1943Sold 1947 and became MS Port Vindex 15–201 July 19423 December 1943Sold 1947 and became MS Port Victor
Pretoria Castle
Ship Aircraft Displacement Propulsion Service Laid downCommissionedFate 152-shaft diesel engine: 16,000 bhp12 October 19389 April 1943Sold 26 January 1946
Notes