British Escort Carrier HMS Smiter

HMS Smiter was laid down on 10 May 1943 as a Bogue escort aircraft carrier, on 10 June 1943. Assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 23 June 1943 she was launched on 27 September 1943 and accepted by Britain on 20 January 1944.

Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Smiter (D55), designated a Ruler-class escort carrier, she served the British throughout the remainder of World War II.

Until December 1944 HMS Smiter was used to transport aircraft form the United States to Britain. From December 1944 to May 1945 she was used for deck landing training in UK waters.

After conversion work to enhance her capabilities to operated anti-submarine aircraft, HMS Smiter was deployed to the Indian Ocean. Although 815 NAS and its Fairey Barracudas were embarked, no action was undertaken before hostilities ceased.

HMS Smiter transported the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIVs of No 132 squadron RAF to Hong Kong. After this she made several trips transporting former POWs to Colombo before returning to the UK.

She returned to the United States at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia on 20 March 1946 and was officially transferred back to the United States Navy on 6 April 1946. She was immediately determined to be surplus to the needs of the Navy and was designated for sale. Her name was struck from the Navy Registry on 6 May 1946.

Class and type	Ruler-class escort carrier
Displacement	7,800 tons
Length	495 ft 8 in (151.08 m)
Beam	69 ft 6 in (21.18 m)
Draught	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	Steam turbines, 1 shaft, 8,500 shp (6.3 MW)
Speed	17.5 knots (32.4 km/h)
Complement	890 officers and men
Armament	2 × 4″/50, 5″/38 or 5″/51 guns4 × twin 40 mm Bofors10 × single 20 mm Oerlikon
Aircraft carried	28