A History of HMS PURSUER

Laid down 31 July 1941, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, Mississippi as a C3-S-A1 type freighter, Maritime Commission hull number 163, Ingalls hull number 296 a 11,900 ton freighter Mormacland, for the US operator Moore-McCormack Lines. She was 18 July 1942 by her sponsor Mrs. Mary Ann S. Bartma.

The Mormacland was purchased by the US navy 7 January 1942 to become the USS ST. GEORGE AVG-17 (reclassified ACV-17 on 20 August 1942) but this name was cancelled when it was decided that AVG-17was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan. ACV-17 was delivered to the US Navy on 14 June 1943, being transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day. She was commissioned into RN service 14 June 1943 as HMS PURSUER (D73), Captain H. R. Graham RN in command. US designation became CVE-17 July 15th, 1943.

Outfitted as an ASW carrier Pursuer participated in a raid on Tirpitz, supported the invasion of southern France, and served as an ASW vessel at Normandy. Assigned RN designation R309 circa 1945 for service in the Pacific, but probably not worn.

On November 26th 1943 Pursuer embarked her air squadron, 881 equipped with 12 Wildcat Vs from RNAMY Belfast - they were to spend the next twelve months attached to Pursuer as part of the  7th Naval Fighter Wing. Pursuer escorted a Gibraltar convoy in February 1944 881 squadron providing fighter cover; her aircraft shot down two, and damaged a third, enemy aircraft.

April 3rd1944 Pursuer, in company with escort carriers Emperor, Fencer and Searcher provide anti-submarine and fighter cover for operation 'TUNGSTEN’, Admiral Fraser’s strike force comprising of the battleships Duke of York and Anson and fleet carriers Victorious and Furious launching Barracuda strikes against the German battleship Tirpitz in Kaa Fjord, Norway..

Pursuer embarked 881 squadron form RNAS Eglinton with 24 Wildcat VIs on July 4th 1944 for passage to Malta, disembarking 881 to RNAS Ta kali, Malta on the 25th.

Between August 15th - 27th  1944 HMS Pursuer joined eight other CVEs in Task Group 88 as part the covering force for the allied invasion of Southern France, operation 'DRAGOON'. Attacker, Emperor, Khedive, Pursuer and Searcher forming Task Group 88.1 While Hunter,  Stalker, and two US CVEs, Tulagi and Kasaan Bay formed Task group 88.2.  Pursuer had re-embarked 881 squadron on August 1st.. 

Pursuer's next operations were in the Aegean Sea September 15th - 21st 1944; 881 squadrons complement being reduced to 20 Wildcats.  Pursuer  operated with Attacker, Emperor, Hunter, Khedive, Searcher, and Stalker conducting anti-shipping, anti-troop movement air strikes on rail links and other lines of communication on the islands of the Aegean. After withdrawing on September 21st Pursuer  sailed for the UK to undergo a refit and to prepare for her next assignment – operations with the  East Indies Fleet. She arrived in the Irish Sea on October 12th , disembarking 881 squadron to RAF Long Kesh, Northern Ireland; the squadron re-embarked for short periods until finally parting company with Pursuer when they disembarked to RNAS Grimsetter on November 27th.

Her refit complete HMS Pursuer embarked 881 from RNAS Hatston on March 23rd 1945, and sailed shortly after for Cape Town.  Pursuer arrived at Cape Town on April 26th where 881 disembarked to RNAS Wingfield.

CVE-17 was returned to US Navy custody on  12 Feb 1946, she was stricken for disposal 28 March 1946. Sold 14 May 1946 and subsequently scrapped.

Content revised: July 2008