HMS Attacker (D02)

HMS "Attacker" (D02) (originally AVG then ACV) was an American-built "Bogue"-class escort aircraft carrier that served with the Royal Navy during World War II.

She was laid down on 17 April 1941 as "Steel Artisan" (hull 160) under Maritime Commission contract by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California. She was commissioned by the United States Navy on 30 September 1942 as USS "Barnes" (CVE-7) but simultaneously transferred via the Lend-Lease program to the United Kingdom. That same day, the ship was renamed HMS "Attacker" (D02) and commissioned by the Royal Navy. "HMS Attacker" served throughout the war as a convoy escort, first in the Atlantic and later the Pacific. The vessel was returned to the United States’ custody 5 January 1946 and sold into merchant service on 28 October 1946 as "Castel Forte".

The ship was eventually converted into a passenger vessel, renamed "Fairsky", and in 1958 began a new career with the Sitmar Line transporting British migrants to Australia, a role that formally came to an end in 1970. On 23 June 1977, while operating as a cruise ship, "Fairsky" hit a submerged wreck and was beached to prevent sinking, but was given a temporary repair and refloated six days later.

In 1978, the ship began conversion to the floating hotel "Philippine Tourist" but was destroyed by fire on 3 November 1979 and subsequently scrapped in Hong Kong on 24 May 1980.

ee also

* List of aircraft carriers
* List of escort aircraft carriers of the United States Navy
* List of World War II ships

References

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