A History of HMS Premier

Laid down 31 October 1942, at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Tacoma, Washington, a C3-S-A1 type freighter Maritime Commission hull number 253, Seattle-Tacoma hull number 37; purchased by the US navy to be the USS ESTERO ACV-42 (later CVE-42). Whilst still under construction it had been decided that CVE 42 was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan on her completion as an aircraft carrier. CVE-42 was launched on 22 March 1943 by her sponsor Mrs. C. N. Ingraham and was assigned to Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Oregon, for the completion as an escort carrier. She was transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend Lease in October 1943 and was delivered on 3 November 1943. She was commissioned into RN service as HMS PREMIER (D23), Captain R.J. Gardner RN in command.

After completing her builder’s sea trials Premier sailed for Vancouver Island, British Colombia, entering Burrard Drydock to begin modification to bring equipment to RN standards and to outfit her as a ASW carrier.

CVE 42 was returned to United States Navy custody on 12 April 1946, and was stricken for disposal 21 May 1946. Sold to  the  Blue Star Line Ltd. in 1947 and converted to a merchant cargo liner at Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Mobile, Alabama,  being  renamed Rhodesia Star on entering service.

Transferred to   to Lamport & Holt Line, Liverpool in 1948 and later transferred   back  to  Blue Star Line Ltd in 1959. Sold in 1967 to International Export Lines Ltd., Bahamas, and renamed Hong Kong Knight. Transferred  to United Overseas Marine Corp. Panama in 1971 before being sold in 1974 to Ta Yung Steel Corp., Taiwan for breaking; arrived at Kaohsiung May1974; scrapping commenced in October of that year.