A History of HMS Arbiter

Arbiter (D-31) was a 'Ameer’ class escort carrier built in the USA at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Tacoma, Washington her keel being laid down 26 April 1943 as the USS St Simon, CVE-51. She was launched 9 September 1943 by her sponsor, Mrs. R. H. Lewis, the wife of Major General R. H. Lewis, Commanding General, North-western Sector, Fort Lewis, Washington. CVE-51 was assigned to Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of construction. The 'Ameer' class carriers were the third group of escort carriers built in the USA for the Royal Navy, and were generally similar to the preceding ‘Attacker’ class.

CVE 51 was transferred into the Royal Navy at Vancouver, Canada on December 31st 1943 and commissioned as H.M.S. ARBITER, under the command of Captain R.C. Harry. At Vancouver, Arbiter, along with other Lend-Lease carriers, was to be modified to meet Admiralty requirements, receive her full crew compliment, complete sea trials and work up ready for beginning her active service. Arbiter additionally received 267.4 tons of pig iron ballast. This work was undertaken by the Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Her modifications began on January 9th 1944 and were completed on March 2nd 1944; on completion of sea trials Arbiter sailed from Vancouver down the west coast of the US to San Diego, then on to Newport News on the East coast, transiting the Panama Canal on April 25th. On May 31st 853 naval air squadron embarked with 12 Avenger Mk. IIs for ferrying to the UK, this unit having formed and worked up at US Naval Air Station Squantum, Massachusetts. On June 2nd Arbiter was allocated to Western Approaches Command as a ferry carrier

Arbiter joined an east bound convoy off New York for her first voyage to Liverpool. This was to be the first of three Atlantic runs employed as an aircraft transport, ferrying lend-lease aircraft between the US and the UK. She arrived off the UK in mid June, and disembarked the 853 squadron to RNAS Machrihanish on June 19th.

After a quick turn around Arbiter sailed from the UK on June 23rd in Convoy UC 27; on July 3rd Arbiter, in company with her escort the USS Simms and a Fleet Oiler the USS Chiwawa left the convoy bound for Norfolk, Virginia. Arbiter docked at Pier 7, Naval Operating Base Norfolk the next day and embarked 65 boxes of Secret Armament Stores

On the 5th the flying personnel of 1820 naval air squadron arrived on board, their 9 Helldiver aircraft and the squadron maintenance personnel embarking the next day; also loaded on the 6th were 2 cases of TBR mainplanes and a Cadillac. The morning of July 7th saw Arbiter loading her cargo of aircraft (44 Hellcats, 7 Corsairs and 2 Martlets) for ferrying to the UK. Once loading was complete she proceeded to New York.

July 8th, Arbiter was alongside at 35th Street Pier Brooklyn to embark passengers (11 women, 7 children, 21 boys, 76 Ratings and 2 Officers) Arbiter proceeded to UK in Convoy CU 31, sailing on July 10th 1944

Anchored in Liverpool Bay late on 21st July to wait socking at Gladstone Dock Liverpool; a fouled anchor prevented Arbiter getting under way until the morning of the 23rd when she finally tied up to unload her passengers and secret armament stores were disembarked. The following day 1820 squadron personnel, aircraft and cargo were disembarked; 1820 going to RNAS Speke.

Arbiter was to make one final run to Norfolk, Virginia, during August for further load of mixed American aircraft types, after unloading this cargo Arbiter was ordered to the Harland & Wolf ship Yard in Belfast for a ‘tropicalisation’ refit, commencing on September 12th. Whilst in Belfast the ship’s company was sent on 7 days home leave, each watch taking their turn.

January 1945 saw Arbiter commencing sea trials in Belfast Lough, on January 30th 1945 she was allocated to the British Pacific Fleet for operations as a ferry carrier. On February 14th Arbiter embarked the 24 Corsair IVs of 1843 squadron and began a flying program in preparation for passage to Australia.

1843 was to suffer its first of three flying accidents only four days later whilst the ship was off Cumbrae light in the firth of Clyde. Sub Lt Scarrott was killed when his Corsair, KD582, turned sharply and dove into the sea on take off; an elevator was been damaged by the prop of another aircraft whilst running up on the flight deck prior to take off but was spotted too late to abort the launch. The same prop damage was inflicted on KD599 piloted by Sub Lt Ingram, but he was able to abort his launch. The third incident involved Sub Lt. Rouse who caught the last arrestor wire and put his Corsair, KD594 into the number 3 barrier.

The squadron suffered 17 incidents during its association with Arbiter, mostly barrier crashes. Two of the most spectacular (and photographed) incidents involved Sub Lt Appleton, who managed to put an aircraft into each of the flight deck catwalks; On February 22nd while landing in KD611 he caught number 4 wire and drifted sharply to port, the port undercarriage leg running into the walkway where the aircraft became firmly stuck. On March 22nd he lost sight of the Deck Landing Control Officer and flew KD607 into the starboard walkway, the aircraft fell overboard, removing an anti aircraft gun mounting as it went.

H.M.S. Arbiter sailed from the Clyde on March 1st bound for Australia. The ship’s first port of call was Gibraltar where Arbiter stored ship before transiting the Mediterranean, for Port Said and the Suez Canal. After transiting the canal Arbiter made for Ceylon, 1843 squadron disembarked some aircraft to RNAS Colombo, operating there between April 4th & 13th before rejoining the ship which was anchored at Trincomalee on the other side of the island.

From Ceylon Arbiter called at Cochin in Southern India to collect spare aircraft before continuing on to Bombay. From Bombay the ship made for Sydney, observing the traditional ‘Crossing the line’ ceremony in the Indian Ocean as they crossed the equator.

1843 squadron was disembarked to RNAS Schofields, on the outskirts of Sydney on May 1st 1945. A number of aircraft and a detachment of maintenance personnel rejoined Arbiter on May 20th, as the ship sailed for the fleet anchorage at Manus in the Admiralty Islands. Corsair KD655 piloted by Sub Lt Smith crashed into sea on take off on the same day. The squadron disembarked to RNAS Ponam in the Admiralty Islands on May 31st. After three weeks of operational training ashore the aircraft re-embarked in Arbiter and sailed for Brisbane on June 25th. The squadron disembarked to RNAS Maryborough, Queensland on July 4th, this was the end of the squadrons association with Arbiter.

Upon her return to Manus On 9th July 1945, HMS Arbiter joined 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron as a replenishment carrier with the BPF Fleet Train in company with HM Ships Chaser, Speaker, & Striker (Flag 30 AC), with escorts HMAS Nizam, HMAS Napier, and the fast supply ship S.S. Glenartney, forming BPF Task Unit 112.2.6. This unit proceeded to the pacific fleet service area; 10 days later they were joined at the pacific feet service area by HMS Indefatigable, escorted by destroyers Wrangler and Wakeful. The following day the main Task force 57 arrived to replenish before beginning operations against the Japanese home islands. On 19th July Arbiter issued four replacement corsairs, Including KD658, to 1841 squadron on H.M.S. Formidable. On the 21st Arbiter withdrew, heading back to Manus, arriving there on th 27th. After exchanging dud aircraft for a fresh replenishment load (typically 9 Seafires, 7 Avengers, 6 Corsairs, 1 Hellcat and 1 Firefly) she left Manus on the 29th to return to the service area

On 1st August HMS Arbiter left the service area, escorted by HMAS Nizam proceeding to rendezvous with Task Force 37 in the vicinity of Saipan, in preparations for air strikes on Japan on 9-10 August. Replenishment complete Arbiter withdrew on August 7th, returning to Manus and then sailing on to Australia. VJ Day (Victory over Japan) was announced on August 15th, when Arbiter was steaming off the Queensland coast providing Deck landing practice for pupils of No.2 Seafire conversion course of 899 squadron.

Arbiter undertook a second, intensive deck landing training session with 899 squadron, between September 10th – 13th to complete the deck landing qualification phase of the course.

Arbiter made the first of two humanitarian runs to Hong Kong next, upon arrival on October 10th captain Everett left the ship to be appointed as Commodore Hong Kong, the command of Arbiter passing to the Executive Officer. After this short visit, no shore leave was granted, the ship was found to be infected by lice (presumably passed onboard from the ‘bum’ boats that crowded the harbour) and the ship required delousing. Upon her arrival back in Australian waters, and after unloading at Sydney

Having restored with medical and food aid Arbiter sailed gain for Hong Kong, arriving on December 3rd; this time leave was granted, and the ship made preparations for the voyage home to the UK. Arbiter Sailed from Hong Kong to Manila, then on to Singapore, collecting ex-POWs and other passengers for the voyage home to Britain. A children’s party was held on Christmas day, somewhere in the Indian Ocean, the First Lieutenant performing the duties of Santa.

Arbiter unloaded her passengers at the tail o’ the bank on the Clyde January 10th 1946 and was then allocated to Rosyth Command.  Arbiter sailed for Portsmouth on February 6th to be de-stored in preparation for her decommissioning. Arbiter departed Portsmouth February 12th and arrived at the US Navy dockyard, Norfolk, Virginia on February 23rd 1946. She was officially handed back to the US Navy on March 3rd 1946.

CVE -51 was struck from the US Navy list on 12 April 1946, and placed on the disposal list. The ship was sold to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, on 30 January 1947. She was converted to the cargo ship Coracero for the Dodero Navigation Company, Argentina, being delivered on 12 January 1848. Sold on to the Philippine President Shipping Lines and renamed President Macapagal from 1965 to 1972. Then Lucky Two in 1972 for passage to be scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1973.