Destination's Journey

HMS Attacker July 1943 at Greenock

HMS Attacker British Aircraft Carrier

HMS Attacker British Aircraft Carrier

HMS Attacker (D02) was an American-built escort carrier that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Converted from a merchantman under construction, she was commissioned by the United States Navy on 30 September 1942, as USS Barnes (CVE-7), a Bogue-class escort carrier; she was decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day under the Lend-Lease agreement.

Attacker served throughout the war, first as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. After further conversion by the Royal Navy in October 1943, into an assault carrier, the ship was active in the Mediterranean, and later the war in the Pacific. In late August 1945, Attacker witnessed the Japanese surrender of Penang, in Malaya, as part of Operation Jurist.

Pre-Commissioning Trials

HMS Attacker during her trials with Swordfish of 838 squadron aboard off San Francisco
HMS Attacker during her trials with Swordfish of 838 squadron aboard off San Francisco

At Greenock

  • HMS Attacker June 1943
    HMS Attacker June 1943
  • HMS Attacker June 1943
    HMS Attacker June 1943
  • HMS Attacker at Greenock
    HMS Attacker at Greenock
  • HMS Attacker July 1943 at Greenock
    HMS Attacker July 1943 at Greenock
  • HMS Attacker at Greenock July 1943
    HMS Attacker at Greenock July 1943
  • HMS Attacker at Greenock July 1943
    HMS Attacker at Greenock July 1943
  • HMS Attacker July 1943
    HMS Attacker July 1943
  • HMS Attacker at Anchor
    HMS Attacker at Anchor

Off Rhodes in the Aegean

  • HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
    HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
  • Supermarine Seafires Ready to Take Off HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
    Supermarine Seafires Ready to Take Off HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
  • HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
    HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean

Bangor Bay 1944

HMS Attacker March 1944, in Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland
HMS Attacker March 1944, in Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland

Fairey Swordfish Crash

  • Swordfish V4387 '2C' making its approach to land on but crashing on deck
    Swordfish V4387 ‘2C’ making its approach to land on but crashing on deck
  • Swordfish V4387 '2C' making its approach to land on but crashing on deck
    Swordfish V4387 ‘2C’ making its approach to land on but crashing on deck
  • Swordfish V4387 '2C' crashing on HMS Attacker Nov 1942
    Swordfish V4387 ‘2C’ crashing on HMS Attacker Nov 1942
  • Swordfish V4387 '2C' making its approach to land on but crashing on HMS Attacker Nov 1942
    Swordfish V4387 ‘2C’ crashing on HMS Attacker Nov 1942

Supermarine Seafire Crashes

  • August 21 1944 Seafire LR710 floated over all the arrestor the wires and the barrier to severely damage 3 other parked aircraft
    August 21 1944 Seafire LR710 floated over all the arrestor the wires and the barrier to severely damage 3 other parked aircraft
  • Match 21st 1944; Seafire MB215 floated over all the arrestor the wires, hit the barrier and overturned, the pilot, Sub Lt R.G. Hallas, was unharmed
    Match 21st 1944; Seafire MB215 floated over all the arrestor the wires, hit the barrier and overturned, the pilot, Sub Lt R.G. Hallas, was unharmed

Bofors Guns

  • Crew of the Port, aft twin 40mm Bofors gun closed up at action stations
    Crew of the Port, aft twin 40mm Bofors gun closed up at action stations
  • HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
    HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean