1 9 4 4
January Contractors trials
February Nominated for service manned by Royal Canadian Navy. personnel except for
Air Group provided by RN.)
5th Build completion and transfer and commissioned as HMS PUNCHER.
15th On completion of Sea Trials took passage to Esquimalt.
Taken in hand for modifications to suit RN deployment for convoy defence.
March Under modification to suit Atlantic convoy defence with RN escorts.
to
May
June
9th Took passage from Vancouver to New York,
Transit of Panama Canal
(Note : Call at ports on west coast of North America to be confirmed.)
July
8th Arrived at New York
11th Deployed at Norfolk, Va for repairs and maintenance.
22nd Nominated for use as a Ferry carrier and to transport US aircraft to Casablanca
Embarked US aircraft at Norfolk
Took passage to Hampton Roads, Va
28th Sailed from Hampton Roads with US military convoy UGF13
(Note : UGF 12 sailed to Naples on 1st July
UGF13 sailed for Naples on 28th.).)
August
Detached from UGF convoy and took passage to unload aircraft at Casablanca.
Passage to return to USA as part of US convoy.
Detached from convoy and took passage to Norfolk.
30th Embarked CORSAIR aircraft at Norfolk for transport to UK
September
8th Joined US tanker Convoy CU38 for passage to UK
15th Arrived in Clyde
18th Landed aircraft in Belfast
19th Took passage to New York with US military convoy for further transport duty.
30th Arrived in New York
October
6th Sailed from New York with US Convoy CU42
(Note : It may be assumed US aircraft were embarked for passage to UK)
On arrival landed aircraft and took passage to Liverpool..
21st Under modifications. in Clyde shipyard.
(Note : Petrol distribution system modification may have been carried out
consequent on loss of HMS DASHER after arm explosion in March 1943.)
November Embarked 12 BARRACUDA aircraft and personnel of 821Squadron
11th Carried out trials with BARRACUDA aircraft
(Note : The were for use to carry out torpedo attacks prior to operational use.)
Sustained major damage in propulsion machinery
Passage to Clyde and disembarked aircraft.
27th Taken in hand by Clyde shipyard for repair of main gearing/
December Under repair
(Note : Repair was carried out by replacement of items from HM Escort Airaft
Carrier NABOB which had been taken out of service.)
1 9 4 5
January Under repair
Nominated for service with Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow.
On completion of refit embarked WILDCAT and BARRACUDA aircraft and
personnel of 861 and 821 Squadrons.
Worked up in Clyde for operational service in Home Fleet.
February
1st Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
11th Sailed as part of Force 2 with HM Escort Carrier PREMIER for attacks on
coastal shipping off Norway as part of a joint aircraft minelay and anti-
shipping strike off Bud (Operation SELENIUM I and II).
(Note : Surface cover was provided by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE and HM
Destroyers CAVENDISH, CAVALIER, SCOURGE and ZEBRA.)
Ship provided fighter cover.
12th Air search unsuccessful as no targets found.
(For details see Naval Staff History (MINING) and CONVOY ! by p Kemp.)
13th Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force 2.
21st Sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force 4 for air minelay in Kara Sound, Norway.
(Note : Operation GROUNDSHEET. Part of Operation SHRED to clear a shorter
passage through British minefield for Home Fleet ships to Norwegian coast.)
See Naval Staff History.)
22nd Carried out air minelay for first time and aircraft came under shore fire causing
loss of two BARRACUDA aircraft.
(Note : Surface cover was provided by HM Cruiser DIDO screened by HM Destroyers
SCORPION, MYNGS and CAVALIER.)
23rd Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force 4.
24th Ship dragged anchor at Scapa Flow during gale.
No major damage was sustained.)
March Deployed at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.
26th Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier NAIRANA to carry out WILDCAT attacks on
shipping in Alesund , Norway (Operation PREFIX)
(Note : The weather conditions were poor During this operation.
No shipping was damaged but strikes made on shore targets,)
April Embarked 825 Squadron WILDCAT aircraft and personnel
6th Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers QUEEN, SEARCHER and TRUMPETER
for air operations off Norway
Carried out air attack on U-Boat Depot Ships at Kilbotn after delay caused by bad
weather conditions. (Operation NEWMARKET)
21st Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
May Nominated for service as Training Carrier after VE Day
Under repair
June Transferred for trooping duties with reduced complement
to Deployed for transport of personnel to US and completed one double crossing
August to Canada and USA.
