A History of HMS RULER

Laid down 25 March 1943, at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Tacoma, Washington, a C3-S-A1 type freighter Maritime Commission hull number 261, Seattle-Tacoma hull number 45; purchased by the US navy to be the USS ‘ST. JOSEPH ACV-50 (later CVE-50 from July 13th 1943). Whilst still under construction it had been decided that AVG-50 was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan on her completion as an aircraft carrier. CVE-50 was launched on 21 August 1943 by her sponsor Mrs. W.W. Smyth. She was transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend Lease and commissioned into RN service as HMS RULER (D72) 22 December 1943, Captain H.P. Currey RN in command.

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

On completion of her work-up and short crew familiarisation period HMS Ruler sailed for the Panama Canal, and then on to Norfolk, Virginia, to embark a ferry load of Hellcats and Corsairs on April 20th 1944, disembarking them at to RNAS Speke, Liverpool on 6 May 144. After quick turn-around Ruler returned to the US, this time to Brooklyn, New York to embark more stores and a second ferry load of Avenger and Hellcat aircraft, loading between the 20th & 23rd of May 1944. Arriving in the UK on June 11th, the aircraft were again disembarked to RNAS Speke.

Ruler returned to the US for a another ferry load in October 1944, loading Hellcats and Corsairs at Norfolk, Virginia, between October 20th & 29th, arriving at Greenock to unload on November 18th.

Ruler joined the British pacific Fleet as a CAP/Strike carrier from March 1945; her RN designation changed to R311 for service in the Pacific, but she carried A731 instead.

Prior to her departure for the Pacific Ruler worked up with the aircraft of 885 squadron operating out of RAF Ballyhalbert, conducting DLTs in the weeks leading up to Christmas 1944. 885 were assigned to Ruler for CAP/strike role, operating 18 Hellcats and 4 Avengers, and they continued working up after embarking on December 30th. Ruler embarked a second squadron, 1772, from RNARY Belfast, with 12 Firefly Is on January 20th for passage to Sydney.

HMS Ruler arrived in Australia in mid-March, disembarking both squadrons to RNAS Schofields, New South Wales, 1772 on the 18th and 885 following them on the 20th. Ruler re-embarked 885 on April 14th and proceeded to Manus, Admiralty Islands, disembarking the aircraft to RNAS Ponam on April 31st., Rulers first operation was as CAP carrier for operations between May 6th and 27th, sailing from the forward area at Leyte, the Philippines on May 3rd. After four replenishment sessions with Task Force 57 she returned to Leyte with her escort HMS Quilliam, arriving at Leyte on May 27th before continuing on to Sydney where she arrived on June 5th..

Her second operational period was June 14th - 15th as part of operation ‘INMATE’ this time acting as a ‘spare deck’. For this operation she carried a single Air Sea Rescue Walrus of 1701 squadron, but this aircraft was lost when it was blown overboard in a sudden squall. Ruler briefly re-embarked 885 on June 17th before a detachment of 12 returning to Ponam on the 19th. Ruler continued to operate the reduced squadron whilst operating as a replenishment carrier beginning on July 17th through to August 15th when hostilities ceased. Her main task was the periodic replenishment of airframes to the carriers operating strikes against the Japanese mainland, operating between Leyte, in the Philippines and the replenishment area south of Japan. 885 squadron parted company with Ruler on September 5th, joining the Fleet Carrier Indefatigable which was withdrawing to Australia.

HMS Ruler entered Tokyo Bay on August 31st with elements of the US and British fleets in preparation for the signing of the Japanese surrender which was signed on September 2nd. Reaper departed Tokyo Bay on September 13th bound for Sydney, carrying ex-POWs, After unloading at Sydney and loading personnel and stores she sailed for the UK on October 22nd.

HMS Reaper arrived in the Clyde for the last time on December 3rd 1945 and began de-storing in preparation for her return to the US Navy, She sailed From the Clyde on January 4th 1945 bound for Norfolk , Virginia.  CVE 50 was returned to US Navy custody on 29 January 1946, and was stricken for disposal 20 March 1946. Sold 31 May 1946 and subsequently scrapped.

Content revised: July 2008