A History of HMS STALKER

Laid down 7 April 1941, by Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco California as a C3-S-A2 type freighter, Maritime Commission, hull number 174, Western Pipe and Steel hull number 62; purchased by the US navy to be the USS HAMLIN AVG- 15 (later changed to ACV- 15 August 20 1942). She was launched on 5 March 1942 by her sponsor Mrs. William H. Shea. Whilst still under construction it had been decided that ACV- 15 was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan on her completion.

Upon her completion she was delivered to the US Navy as USS HAMLIN on December 21st 1942; ACV- 15 was transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day and commissioned as HMS STALKER (D91) on 7 October 1942, Captain H.S. Murray-Smith RN in command.  Supported invasions and served as a convoy escort carrier in the Mediterranean, then transferred to the Pacific.

On September 1st 1943 HMS Stalker became a part of Force V, the covering force for the allied invasion of Salerno Italy in operation ‘AVALANCHE’ which saw operations between September 9 – 12th. Stalker operated in company with the assault CVEs Attacker, Hunter and Battler and the maintenance carrier Unicorn making a rare operational contribution. It was intended that a constant presence of naval air cover would be maintained over the landing sites, up to 20 aircraft aloft at a time. The attrition rate was high, and the CVEs required addition aircraft to be transferred from the Fleet Carriers of Force H to continue operations at this level ( nearly out of sircraft itself by now, Forcr H withdrew to Malta on the 11th.). Once the sir field at Paestum was under Allied control as many serviceable fighters as could be mustered were put ashore to operate from there. Stalker could only manage 2 serviceable Seafires to disembark on the morning of September 12th  After disembarking fighters the force withdrew to Palermo to replenish. Force V disbanded on the 20th if September, the CVEs returning to the UK to refit and allow squadrons the opportunity to receive replacement aircraft and aircrews.

Between August 15th - 27th 1944 HMS Stalker 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. Stalker had embarked 800 squadron with 23 Hellcat Is, and 1 Walrus of 700 Squadron for Air Sea Rescue duties.

Stalker's next operations were in the Aegean Sea September 25th - October 20th 1944; 809 squadrons complement being 15 Seafire L.IIIs and 5 LR.IIc. Stalker operated with Attacker, Emperor, Hunter, Khedive, Pursuer, and Searcher, conducting anti-shipping, anti-troop movement air strikes on rail links and other lines of communication on the islands of the Aegean. November 1st 809 squadron was transferred to HMS Attacker, Stalker sailed for the UK to undergo a refit and to prepare for her next assignment – operations with the East Indies Fleet.

Her refit complete HMS Stalker sailed for Ceylon. She re-embarked 809 from RNAS Dejheila, Egypt, on March 7th 1945 before transiting the Suez Canal. Stalker arrived at Trincomalee around March 20th to join the 21st Aircraft carrier Squadron (21 ACS - Emperor, Hunter, Khedive and Stalker. and later joined by Ameer, Attacker, Pursuer, Searcher, Shah, and Trouncer) at Trincomalee, Ceylon; 21 ACS was a part of the recently formed East Indies Fleet.

HMS Stalker was to form part of the force of six CVEs sent to reoccupy Singapore. She was one of four CVEs, Hunter, Khedive, Emperor and Stalker to enter Singapore harbour on September 10th 1945. Ameer and Empress remaining at sea.

Shortly after Stalker sailed for the UK, she arrived in the Irish Sea on October 21st 1945, disembarking 809 squadron to RNAS Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland. HMS Stalker was no longer required for operational service with the Royal Navy, de-storing ship and removal of equipment began almost as soon as her squadron had departed.

CVE-15 was decommissioned by the Royal Navy on 29 December 1945 at Norfolk, Virginia, and returned to the custody of the United States. She was struck from the US Navy List 20 March 1946 and sold to Waterman Steamship Corp. of Mobile, Alabama, 18 December 1946. Sold on in August 1947 to a Dutch company and converted to the merchant ship Riouw. Later renamed Lobito 1967. as scrapped in 1975.

Content revised: July 2008