A History of HMS PRETORIA CASTLE
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HMS PRETORIA CASTLE arriving at Rosyth to complete post
conversion trials March 12th 1943 |
Built by Harland & Wolff. Belfast, Northern Ireland;
Launched 12 Oct 1938, completed 1939 as a passenger liner. Requisitioned
as armed merchant cruiser 10/1939, commissioned 28 November 1939.
Purchased by RN 16 July 1942 and converted to a carrier at Swan Hunter.
Commissioned 29 July 1943, conversion completed 9 August 1943.
Used only as a trials and training carrier. She was
paid off December 1945, sold 26 January 1946 for merchant service
but not immediately decommissioned; delivered to new owners 21 March
1946 for conversion to cargo liner. Entered service as 'Warwick
Castle' 1947. Scrapped in Spain starting 9/1962.
A
fuller account of this ships history will be added at some time in
the future.
Content revised: July 2008
Sources used in compiling this account:
Brown, D. (1974) 'Carrier Operations in World War 2 - vol
1 the Royal Navy' Shepperton, Ian Allen Ltd.
Hobbs, D. (2003) 'Royal Navy Escort Carriers'
Liskeard, Maritime Books
Poolman, K. (1988) 'Allied Escort Carriers of World War
Two in Action' London, Blandford Press
Poolman, K. (1972) 'Escort Carriers
1941 - 1945' Shepperton, Ian Allen Ltd.
Sturtivant, R. & Burrows, M. (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm
Aircraft 1939 to 1945' Tonbridge Wells, Air Britain
(Historians)
Sturtivant, R & Balance, T., (1994) 'Squadrons of the
Fleet Air Arm' Tonbridge Wells, Air Britain (Historians)
British officers
(including Commonwealth officers serving in British
units) Part of WWII Unit Histories and Officers web site.
Convoy Web A
comprehensive resource listing WW2 convoys and ships .
War
Sailors
Ships in Atlantic and miscellaneous convoys during WW2.
On-line archive
Fold3.com various documents including;
Admiralty War Diaries
Miscellaneous documents
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