![](../images/BADGES/Battler.png)
![](BATTLER/Battler_001.jpg) |
The former USS ALTAMAHA is launched April 4th
1942.
From the private collection of John
Worthington. † |
Commissioning
![](BATTLER/Battler_002_small.jpg) |
Ships company at Pasgagula, Mississippi, ready to bring HMS
Battler to the UK. Click for larger image
|
![](BATTLER/Battler_003.jpg) |
Captain F.M.R. Stephenson RN † |
Flying work-up and
passage to New York
![](BATTLER/Battler_007.jpg) |
Self defence
armament: Above twin 40mm Bofors mounts. Below 4½
gun during night live fire exercise.† |
![](BATTLER/Battler_008.JPG) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_009.jpg) |
New York † |
Working up and voyage to Greenock
![](BATTLER/Battler_010.jpg) |
Above: A Swordfish
of 835 Squadron being brought up from the hanger
deck. © IWM (A 16649)
Below: THe aircraft is prepared for take-off as
its torpedo is checked. © IWM (A 16647) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_011.jpg) |
![](BATTLER/RML.544.jpg) |
Rescue Motor Launch 544 moored alongside
BATTLER, probably on the Clyde during the
carrier's work-up period. † |
Operation AVALANCHE
![](BATTLER/Battler_012.jpg) |
HMS Battler in Grand Harbour Malta, September
1943 with a deck full of Seafire L.IIcs
belonging to 807 and 808 squadrons during
Operation AVALANCHE.
Below: Admiral Vian addresses the ships' company
at Malta. † |
![](BATTLER/Battler_017.jpg) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_013.jpg) |
Above: Ships of Force V seen from HMS BATTLER
during operation AVALANCHE. The larger carrier
in the center is HMS UNICORN. † |
![](BATTLER/Battler_014.jpg) |
Above: MS STALKER and other vessels of TF 88
seen from BATTLER † |
![](BATTLER/Battler_015.jpg) |
HMS BATTLER leads the carriers HUNTER, ATTACKER
and STALKER Off the Italian coast † |
![](BATTLER/Battler_016.jpg) |
Above: Ships of the invasion force seen from HMS
BATTLER during operation AVALANCHE. † |
![](BATTLER/Battler_018.JPG) |
Above: |
![](BATTLER/Battler_020.jpg) |
Above: Lecture by Squadron PHT to air crews in
the ready room© IWM (A 21643 |
![](BATTLER/Battler_021.jpg) |
Above: Fighter Direction personnel closed-up©
IWM (A 21661) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_022.jpg) |
Above: Seafire pilots of 834 Squadron with the
Fighter Director Officer © IWM (A 21613) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_023.jpg) |
Above: The Air Staff officer briefing observers
in the air plot room before they set out on an
anti-submarine patrol © IWM (A 21602) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_019.jpg) |
Above: Two pilots of 834 Squadron standing by
the nose of a Supermarine Seafire on the flight
deck of HMS BATTLER . The barrels and part of
the breech of one of the twin 40 mm Bofors guns
can be seen in the background. © IWM (A 21600) |
![](BATTLER/Battler_024.jpg) |
Above: Damaged Seafires on the deck of BATTLER
after the AVALANCHE operations. |
![](BATTLER/Battler_025.jpg) |
Meteorological Officer taking a sight with a
pilot balloon and theodolite © IWM (A 21601) |
![](BATTLER/MTB307_01.jpg) |
Above & below: MTB 307 acting as a plane guard/rescue
boat for carriers of Task Group 88 in the Aegean
© IWM (FL 8591). |
![](BATTLER/MTB307_02.jpg) |
† |
![](BATTLER/MTB307_03.jpg) |
A
rescued pilot is transferred back on board BATTLER from
MTB 307 via a rope ladder at Bizerta.† |
Photographs marked † are courtesy of John Worthington, who served on BATTLER
as an Able Seaman Gunner AA3. He served aboard her 1943 - 1945.
Page last edited:
02 December 2018
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