H.M.S. PRETORIA_CASTLE Gallery

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HMS PRETORIA CASTLE gallery

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Trials Carrier in service August 1943 - December 1945

August 12th 1943: HMS PRETORIA CASTLE arriving at Rosyth to complete her post conversion trials.

HMS PRETORIA CASTLE on the Clyde having completed her sea trials after conversion to an aircraft carrier, August 1943. © IWM (FL 17631)

PRETORIA CASTLE at anchor on the Clyde, date unknown but probably early 1944 as she is still wearing her original, but battered, paint scheme. © IWM (A 23565)

PRETORIA CASTLE at anchor on the Clyde, date unknown but probably early 1944 as she is still wearing her original, but battered, paint scheme. © IWM (A 23563)

ort broadside view of PRETORIA CASTLE at anchor on the Clyde.

A Fairey Fulmar two-seater Fleet fighter is catapulted from the deck while the ship is at anchor on the Cly.de Date unknown. © IWM (A 23562)

PRETORIA CASTLE pictured during flight trials on the Clyde. Date unknown. There is one Fairey Albacore biplane ranged on the flight deck ready for an unassisted take-off and one Fairey Fulmar parked in the aircraft park ahead of the island. Date unknown. ©IWM (A 23564)

A Firefly has its wings folded before being taken down into the hangar. Date unknown.

December 1944: Seafire PK243 has just landed and is rolling back to release the arrester wire before taxiing forward.

A Petty Officer gives a class instruction on the mechanisms of an air launch torpedo. Date unknown..© IWM (A 25528

An Ordinance Artificer gives instruction on Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun on HMS Pretoria Castle 9 September 1944 © IWM (A 25534)

Captain (formerly Vice Admiral retired) Richard Bell Davies, VC, CB, DSO, AFC, RN stood on board the escort carrier HMS PRETORIA CASTLE © IWM (A 21275)

Xmas 1944: HMS PRETORIA CASTLE Christmas Card.

HMS PRETORIA CASTLE commemorative material, probably produced in January 1946 when she was put up for disposal.

HMS PRETORIA CASTLE on her way to Belfast. after being destored and her military equipment removed C March 1946.

Xmas 1944: HMS PRETORIA CASTLE Christmas Card.

HMS PRETORIA CASTLE commemorative material, probably produced in January 1946 when she was put up for disposal.

On emerging from the Belfast shipyard on completion of her conversion back to a passenger liner in early 1947, her name was change to WARWICK CASTLE as another ship already under construction had been assigned the name PRETORIA CASTLE before the fate of the carrier was known.