1
9 4 3
October
Contractor’s trials.
(Note: Three US Navy radars were fitted
during build. Type
SK
for aircraft detection, Type SG for
surface
warning and a fire-control outfit for
the control of Close Range AA Armament.
The
main armament
comprised two 5in standard US Navy guns
and over 50 Close Range AA guns.)
November
8th
Build completion and transferred to the
Royal Navy
Commissioned as HMS
RANEE.
Commenced sea trials
and shakedown.
Passage to Esquimalt
for completion of modifications to suit
deployment by RN for convoy defence
Taken in hand for
modification by HM Canadian Dockyard.
December
Modification work in continuation.
1
9 4 4
January
On completion of modifications carried
out sea trials off Vancouver
28th
Assisted HM Escort Aircraft Carrier HMS
NABOB which had run aground.
Sustained structural
damage to stern whilst attempting to refloat
the stranded sister ship.
(Note: Stores and fuel had to be
jettisoned before HMS NABOB could be refloated)
Taken in hand for
repair.
February
2nd
Nominated for detached services for use
by the US Navy as a Ferry Carrier
On completion of repair took passage to
San
Francisco
Called at San
Francisco
to embark aircraft for delivery to Cochin,
India.
8th
Took passage to Wellington,
New
Zealand
25th
Arrived at Wellington
26th
Took passage to Fremantle,
Australia
March
Passage in Indian
Ocean
18th
Arrived at Cochin
and disembarked aircraft.
31st
Took return passage to Vancouver
with call at Melbourne,
Australia.
June
28th
On completion took passage to San
Francisco
July
17th
At Cristobal,
Panama
after transit of Panama
Canal.
Passage to Norfolk,
Va
August
17th
Deployed at Norfolk
September
Embarked aircraft for transport of US
Navy aircraft to Cape
Town.
5th
Took passage to Cape
Town.
23rd
Deployed at Cape
Town
and disembarked aircraft.
October
Return passage to USA
after disembarking aircraft.
Returned to RN control
Deployed at New
York
and embarked 18 CORSAIR aircraft for
delivery to UK.
Passage to Clyde
from New
York.
November
2nd
Disembarked aircraft at Belfast.
Took passage to Norfolk
for collection of aircraft for RN use.
18th
At Norfolk, Va
and embarked 18 CORSAIR aircraft for
delivery to UK
(Note:
Embarkation of Squadron personnel to be
confirmed)
December
3rd
Disembarked aircraft in Clyde
area on arrival.
(Note:
Further passage to Norfolk
and return to Clyde
to be confirmed.
Took passage to Forth
27th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Rosyth
(Note: The
Fuel Distribution System may have been
modified..)
1
9 4 5
January
Nominated for service as a Deck Landing
Training Carrier.
Deployed in Clyde
area for training.
Nominated for
further deployment as a Ferry Carrier
for US Navy.
21st
Took passage to San
Diego
to embark aircraft.
Nominated for deployment with Training
Squadron in Home waters
February
On arrival deployed for transport of US
Navy aircraft
March
Detached service with US Navy in
continuation.
to
April
May
Released from US Navy detached service
2nd
Sailed from San
Diego
for New
York
24th
Sailed from New
York
for Clyde.
Nominated for refit and passage to Forth
June
Under refit by HM Dockyard Rosyth,
to
Nominated for deployment as a troopship.
August
September
Conversion to be completed by Tyneside
commercial shipyard
Passage to Tyne
12th
Under conversion.
(Note:
Hangar area modified to provide
accommodation for passengers
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes was changed to R323 to conform
with US Navy
identity for this type of warship.)