HMS Ruler was a Ruler-class escort carrier of the British Royal Navy during World War II. She was built in the United States as the Bogue-class carrier St. Joseph (AVG/CVE/ACV-50) for Lend-Lease to the United Kingdom.
She was laid down on 25 March 1943 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation of Tacoma, Washington. Launched on 21 August 1943 the carrier was transferred to the UK on 22 December 1943 and commissioned the same day as HMS Ruler with the pennant number D72.
HMS Ruler served in the North Atlantic during 1944, protecting the vital flow of men and war materiel from the United States to Great Britain and to fighting fronts on the European continent. In early 1945, she transferred to the Pacific Theatre where she supported a raid on Truk and the campaign to take Okinawa.
From March to August 1945 was part of the British Pacific Fleet attached to the 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron.
After the war ended, Ruler returned to the United States at Norfolk, Virginia, on 28 January 1946. She was decommissioned from RN service on 29 January, and was accepted by the US Navy the same day. In excess of the Navy’s needs, she was slated for disposal and struck from the Navy Register on 20 March 1946. The ship was sold on 13 May and scrapped within the year.
HMS Ruler under constructionHMS RulerHMS RulerHMS Ruler docked with her flight deck packed with snow-covered Grumman Hellcat fighters, on 21 January 1945, on the ClydeHMS Ruler 21 Jan 1945 with snow covered Fairey Fireflies and Grumman AvengersHMS RulerHMS Ruler (A731) entering the basin in the Pyrmont area of Sydney, NSW, Australia on 27 September 1945HMS Ruler (A731) underway off the coast of Japan on 18 July 1945. The carrier is preparing to refuel destroyer HMAS NepalHMS Ruler (A731) underway off the coast of Japan on 18 July 1945HMS Ruler (A731) Sydney Harbour, 1945.HMS Ruler (R311) an Avenger has crashed onto the forecastle during take-offHMS Ruler moored in Pyrmont Sydney NSW, Australia on 27 Sep 1945 with decks lined with sailors and ex-prisoners of warHMS Ruler operating the Hellcats of 885 squadron in the Pacific with the British Pacific Fleet, 1945USS Missouri (BB-63) tied up to the pier, 9–12 May 1946 at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia next to Ruler
Aircraft Operations
Fairey Firefly
HMS Ruler 21 Jan 1945 with snow covered Fairey Fireflies and Grumman Avengers
Grumman Avengers
HMS Ruler 21 Jan 1945 with snow covered Fairey Fireflies and Grumman AvengersHMS Ruler (R311) an Avenger has crashed onto the forecastle during take-off
Grumman Hellcats
Grumman Hellcat on HMS RulerGrumman Hellcat Accident on HMS RulerHMS Ruler operating the Hellcats of 885 squadron in the Pacific with the British Pacific Fleet, 1945HMS Ruler docked with her flight deck packed with snow-covered Grumman Hellcat fighters, on 21 January 1945, on the Clyde
