A History of HMS AMEER

HMS AMEER at anchor at Trincomalee, here she has the Hellcats of No.896 Squadron ranged on deck. Photo: Courtesy of Frank Perry

Two US maritime Commission hulls were earmarked for transfer to the Royal Navy as escort carriers with the ships' name 'AMEER':

AMEER (1)

On December 9, 1942, the keel was laid for a Casablanca class auxiliary aircraft carrier at the Kaiser Shipyard, Vancouver, Washington. She was launched on April 19 1943 as the HMS AMEER and was intended to be transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements. Her sponsor was Mrs. Benjamin Morrell, wife of Admiral Morrell USN. Before delivery, however, the US Navy decided that she (and other escort carriers building for Britain at that time) would be required for the US war effort and subsequently the "AMEER" was delivered to the U. S. Navy on August 7, 1943 became the USS LISCOME BAY CVE-56. Sadly the LISCOME BAY had a very short career, she was sunk by a Japanese submarine I-175 on 24 November 1943 off the Gilbert Islands - 644 men lost their lives, including Admiral Mullinix, her commanding officer Capt. I. D. Wiltsie, 53 officers and 591 enlisted men – 272 survivors were rescued.

AMEER (2)

The second auxiliary aircraft carrier earmarked to be named HMS AMEER began her carrier as the USS BAFFINS - CVE-35, a Bogue class escort carrier, her keel being laid down 18 July1942 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington. She was launched 18 Oct 1942. CVE-35 was sponsored by Mrs. Laurance Bennett, wife of Commander Bennett. Her hull was towed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard for completion.

CVE-35 commissioned into the US Navy on June 28 1943 as the USS Baffins, Captain W. L. Rees USN in command. CVE-35 was to remain at the Puget Sound Navy Yard until July 18th 1943, before proceeding to Vancouver, British Columbia. upon arrival she de-commissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy. CVE-35 was re-commissioned as HMS AMEER (D01) on July 20th, Captain Gerald Douglas Yates in command.

AMEER was handed over to the Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver, British Columbia for modification prior to entering service with the Royal Navy. British equipment was installed and the carrier was outfitted to operate as strike/CAP carrier.

HMS AMEER alongside at Lapointe Pier, Vancouver, British Colombia.

On completion of this work and her initial work up AMEER sailed from Vancouver down the west coast of the US to San Diego, then on to Balboa to enter the Panama Canal. Exiting the canal she headed for New York to await an west bound convoy.

AMEER sailed from New York on January 2nd 1944. Upon her arrival in the Clyde AMEER was further modified and stored in preparation for her assignment to the Eastern Fleet in Ceylon. AMEER sailed from the Clyde for the Far East on May 6th 1944.

AMEER's pennant number was changed to R302 for service in the in the Far East but this may not have been applied; 'R' pennants were assigned to carriers for operations in the Pacific theatre. H.M.S. AMEER arrived in Trincomalee on June 27th and was to spend her first month in the area operating as a ferry carrier.

HMS AMEER ferrying Seafires and Corsairs July 1944. Photo: Courtesy of Frank Perry

From the end of July 1944 AMEER joined sister CVE H.M.S. BATTLER on trade protection duties in the Indian Ocean, embarking 845 squadron's 12 Avengers and 4 Wildcat Vs on the 26th from RNAS Katukurunda. On return from this three month patrol 845 disembarked to RNAS Colombo Racecourse on October 20th. The squadron was to embark again for a five day tour of operations on December 24th before transferring to HMS BEGUM on the 29th.

AMEER now operated as part of the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (21 ACS – eventually numbering; AMEER, ATTACKER, BATTLER, BEGUM, EMPEROR, EMPRESS HUNTER, KHEDIVE, PURSUERr, SEARECHER, SHAH, STALKER and TROUNCER) with the newly created East Indies Fleet

At the beginning of the New Year AMEER operated in company with HMS EMPRESS as part of Force 62, and embarked the Hellcat fighters of 804 squadron. AMEER provided air cover in support of operation 'MATADOR', the allied invasion of Ramree Island, protecting the bombardment ships QUEEN ELIZABETH and PHEOBE on January 18th 1945. On the 26th she provided air cover for Operation "SANKEY", allied landings by Royal Marines on Cheduba Island. AMEER providing Carrier air patrols and fighter escorts for HMS EMPRESS' Photo reconnaissance Hellcats of 888 squadron on photographic missions over the Kra Isthmus, Penang and Northern Sumatra. Aircraft of 804 succeeded in shooting down three Japanese aircraft on March 1st.

HMS AMEER at anchor at Trincomalee, here she has the with Hellcats of No.896 Squadron ranged on deck. Photo: Courtesy of Frank Perry

On June 13th the Hellcat (PR)s of 888 squadron embarked from RNAS Colombo Racecourse in preparation for operation "BALSAM", the photographic reconnaissance of Southern Malaya and strikes against Sumatran airfields. The operation commenced on June 18th, 888 returned to Colombo Racecourse the 25th on completion. The Hellcats of 896 squadron were transferred over from HMS EMPRESS on June 24th in preparation for operation "COLLIE", on July 5th, strikes against the Nicobar Islands and cover for minesweeping forces near Phuket Island.

On completion of operations 896 disembarked to RNAS Trincomalee on July 18th. They were soon replaced by the return of 804 squadron’s Hellcats together with a single Walrus of 1700 squadron for air sea rescue duties. AMEER, in company with HMS EMPEROR took part in operation "LIVERY", commencing July 24th, conducting air strikes on Northern Malaya and providing air cover for minesweeping operations. This was an intense flying period for the two CVEs, over a 3 day period, Hellcats from both carriers flew over 150 sorties and destroyed more than 30 Japanese aircraft on the ground, together with trains and road transport. On July 26th HMS AMEER was attacked by the only Kamikaze to strike at a British carrier in the Indian Ocean. Whilst in the Bay of Bengal a single “Sonia” attempted to dive onto AMEER, it was hit and successfully deflected by fire from the ships’ defensive armament, splashing into the sea some 500 yds out.

After the end of hostilities on August 15th 1945 attention turned to the reoccupation of former British territories held by Japanese forces, Operation "IPPER". HMS AMEER was to form part of the force of six CVEs sent to reoccupy Singapore, AMEER, EMPEROR, EMPRESS, HUNTER, KHEDIVE, and STALKER. The force arrived off Singapore Island on the 6th. On September 10th HUNTER, KHEDIVE, EMPEROR and STALKER entered Singapore harbour. AMEER was one of 90 ships (including 70 RN and RIN warships, 3 Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, 3 hospital ships and 14 merchant vessels) present in Singapore Roads for the surrender ceremony on September 12th 1945..

Upon her return to Ceylon 804 squadron disembarked, flying to RNAS Coimbatore, S. India on October 3rd..  AMEER began preparations to return to UK after her aircraft had left for the final time. After storing and loading passengers AMEER sailed for the UK on October 20th 1945.

HMS AMEER arrived on the Clyde November 18th and began to be de-stored ready for return to the US Navy. She sailed for Norfolk, Virginias on December 22nd. CVE-35 was returned to US Naval custody at Norfolk, Virginia on January 17th 1946  No further use was too made of her as an aircraft carrier and she was stricken for disposal 20 March 1946. She was sold for conversion into merchant service 17 September 1946 as M.V. ROBIN KIRK. She was scrapped in Taiwan in 1969.

Content revised: July 2008