1 9 4 1
November
17th Commissioned for
service as HMS ARCHER.
December Carried
out acceptance trials in Hampton Roads
US
Army Air Force aircraft crashed on landing due to hazard presented by Diesel
exhaust
smoke.
Repair
to defects found during trials arranged at Philadelphia Navy Yard
24th Taken in hand at Philadelphia for repair of defects
including propulsion machinery and gyro
equipment.
1 9 4 2
January Nominated
for work-up for operational service in Caribbean
On
completion of repair took passage to NORFOLK, Va to embark aircraft for
transfer to
UK
12th During passage to work-up involved in
collision with ss BRAZOS and sustained damage to
bow structure
requiring further repair.
Passage to Charleston under tow
by US Navy tug CHEROKEE.
(Note: US CATALINA aircraft provided air cover.)
February Under
repair at Charlestown Navy Yard
March Allocated
for deployment based in Sierra Leone to provide air cover for
convoy defence
off West Africa.
19th Embarked four SWORDFISH aircraft and
personnel of 834 Squadron.
(Note: 12 MARTLET aircraft airframes were carried for
delivery to UK.
These
may have been those embarked at Norfolk or subsequent change of
cargo
To
be confirmed.)
Took passage to Freetown.
(Note: Air cover was provided for US AS Convoy to Ascension Island during part of transit
HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE was deployed in this area to provide
cover for military
convoys on passage to East Africa for planned landings in Madagascar.
April
4th Arrived at Freetown.
Taken in hand for repair to machinery defects on passage.
May
13th Sailed from Freetown to carry out convoy defence
Diverted to go to Cape Town for
collection of bullion.
June
Passage to Freetown with
bullion.
26th Took passage from Freetown to New York with call
at Bermuda.
July On
arrival taken in hand for repairs to machinery and modifications to improve
stowage arrangements for stowage of aircraft embarked for
transit.
August Under
repair and modification.
to
October
November
2nd On completion embarked 35 aircraft and
US personnel for passage to North Africa
13th Joined military Convoy UGF2 in Hampton
Roads for passage to Casablanca
18th Arrived at Casablanca
After
landing aircraft took passage to Gibraltar
19th Deployed at Gibraltar and awaited arrival of
military Convoy MKF3 from Algiers
Joined
MKF3 for passage to Liverpool
December
3rd Detached from
MKF3 on arrival at Liverpool.
4th Taken in hand at Liverpool commercial shipyard to
complete modifications to suit RN
deployment.
Work
included extension of flight deck
1 9 4 3
January Under
modification
(Note: British radar outfits were fitted during this
period.)
February Nominated
for service in Western Approaches Command.
17th On completion worked-up for Atlantic
convoy defence
Embarked 819 Squadron SWORDFISH aircraft and personnel. together with
892 Squadron MARTLET aircraft and personnel.
Deployed in Clyde for
work-up with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier BITER.
March Joined
Western Approaches Command.
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort with HMS BITER and HMS DASHER. as part of 4th
Support
Group with HM Destroyers MINE, MATCHLESS, ECLIPSE and FURY as 4th
Support
Group.
20th Deployed at Scapa Flow during Royal visit
(Note: One source records ship was visited by HM King George
VI.)
21st Under defect
repair at Belfast shipyard.
Transferred to Liverpool shipyard
for completion of repair work.
April Under repair in Liverpool.
On
completion of post repair trials took passage to embark SWORDFISH aircraft
of 819 Squadron and MARTLET aircraft of 892 Squadron with
personnel.
(Note:
Rocket Projectiles were fitted to SWORDFISH aircraft for attacks on U-Boats
for first time.)
May
2nd Took passage from Clyde to join ships of 4th Support
Group to provide anti-
submarine patrols in support of surface operations.
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
(Note: Support Group consisted of HM Destroyers MILNE,
ECLIPSE and
FURY
21st Joined Convoy HX239 with ships of Group
to supplement defence against attacks
by U-Boats of MOSEL and DONAU Groups.
(Note: HX239 was escorted by HM Destroyers KEPPEL and
ESCAPADE, HM Frigate
TOWY and five corvettes.)
23rd SWORDFISH aircraft carried out depth
charge attack on U752 and came under heavy
return fire and submarine escaped.
Further
attack by SWORDFISH Aircraft G of 819 Squadron carried out with
Rocket
Projectiles with support from MARTLET
aircraft B of 829 Squadron from ship.
Submarine
sunk in position 51.48N 29.32W. 13 survivors from U-Boat were rescued
by HM Destroyer ESCAPADE of B3 Group.
(See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp, ECHO OF A FIGHTING FLOWER by P
Coy and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair. This was
first U-Boat sinking
by aircraft from an RN Escort Carrier using Rocket
Projectiles.)
June Deployed
in Bay
of Biscay for interception of U-Boats on passage between French
bases and Atlantic convoy routes with several other RN
Escort and Support Groups.
RAF
Coastal Command aircraft also took part and cover against surface attacks was
provided by HM Cruisers BERMUDA and GLASGOW (Operations MUSKETRY and
SEASLUG).
(See
BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N Franks, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
by C Barnett, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR.)
27th Carried out exercises with Group in Irish Sea before resuming Bay of Biscay
deployment.
July Deployed in Bay of Biscay for anti-submarine
interception patrol.
26th Released from SEASLUG and took passage
to Plymouth.
28th Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard
Devonport
August Passage to Clyde for major
repair to propulsion machinery in commercial shipyard.
3rd Arrived in Clyde
4th Under repair
September Under
repair
to
October
November
6th Withdrawn from
operational service because of unreliable propulsion machinery.
Reduced
to care and maintenance status in Clyde and used as an Accommodation and
Stores Ship.
September Clyde service in continuation.
to
December
1 9
4 4
January Clyde deployment
in continuation.
to
February
March
16th Transferred to Loch Alsh
for use as an Accommodation Ship.
April Accommodation
duty in continuation.
to Nominated
for transfer to Ministry of War Transport for use as an aircraft
July Ferry after replacement
of main gearing.
Work arranged in
Belfast shipyard
August Under repair at Belfast
to
December
1 9 4 5
January Under
repair and conversion for new role.
to
February
March
15th Transferred to Ministry of War Transport and renamed EMPIRE
LAGAN
April Service
as EMPIRE LAGAN
to
August
