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
At Greenock
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
HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean
Bangor Bay 1944
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’ 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
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
HMS Attacker September 1944 off Rhodes in the Aegean