H.M.S. RAJAH Gallery

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HMS RAJAH gallery

Images marked ♣ are courtesy of Peter Evans, his father, formeer Air Fitter (Electrical) Gomer Evans, served on RAJAH January 1944-April 1946. Additional Images, marked © IWM, are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Most of these images are sized to fit the screen, however where possible those containing groups of personnel will open large enough to see individuals. Many, but not all, of these images are available in larger, high-res versions and copies can be supplied upon receipt of a photo request. If you have pictures or other memorabilia that you can contribute to this project please contact the Webmaster using the Offer of assistance form.

The Royal Navy Research Archive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License See our terms of use for conditions regarding using these images in other works.

Under construction at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington: December 1942 – January 1944

This is AVG-46 (RANEE) at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington. The hull and flight deck support beams are complete, and the ship is ready for launching. Whereas this vessel was completed on site, AVG-42 (RAJAH ) is to be towed up the Pacific coast to the shipyard of Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of her construction as an escort carrier (1) Image via Navsource.net

This is AVG-46 (RANEE) being launched at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington. The hull and flight deck support beams are complete. Whereas this vessel was completed on site, AVG-42 (RAJAH ) is to be towed up the Pacific coast to the shipyard of Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of her construction as an escort carrier. Image via Navsource.net

Modification period at Vancouver: January - April 1944

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (1) Image: e000762191 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (2) Image: e000762192 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (3) Image: e000762195 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (4) Image: ee000762194 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762205 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Aft starboard quarter view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762204 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Stern view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762207 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

New torpedo storage racks being put to the test using dummies. Image: e00076219Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Seen form the flight deck looking down the forward lift well, one of the new fire screens is tested to isolate the hangar. Image: e000762209 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Checking the Installation of steam heating in the 40mm Bofor gfun tubs. Image: e000762188 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

March 20th 1944: In drydock at Esquimalt: RAJAH completed her alterations at the Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver, on March 17th and sailed to the RCN dockyard at Esquimalt for drydocking and defect rectification. She was docked on March 20th and spent 2 days having remedial hull work done. (Image is of CVE-48 THANE)

c. mid April 1944: RAJAH on passage to the US Naval Yard at Bremerton, Washington, to ammunition the ship and then return to the Straits of Georgia (between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland) for steaming, gunnery, radar and other trials and exercises.

Deck Landing Training Duties: July - August 1944

c. late July 1944: RAJAH underway, probably in the Clyde training area, preparing to begin a period of duty as the west coast Deck Landing Training Carrier. © IWM (FL 7059)

July 30th 1944: Corsair taking off during DLT, on RAJAH. © IWM (A 26687)

July 30th 1944: An unidentified Barracuda of 768 Sqn based at RNAS Abbotsinch has lost its tail wheel and damaged its rudder during a DLT session for Air Force pilots receiving deck landing training for the top-secret Operation OXTAIL; the aircraft went into a tightening spiral and ditched 400yds from Barassie, Ayrshire; the pilot, Flight Lt Maclean RAF, was rescued unhurt by a trawler. © IWM (a 26686)

Recovering the wreckage. This is possibly Barracuda LS643 of 768 Sqn based at RNAS Abbotsinch, flown by Pilot Officer J. R. Myles RCAF; one of a number of Air Force pilots receiving deck landing training for the top-secret Operation OXTAIL. The port undercarriage leg collapsed, and the aircraft ran into the port walkway on August 3rd 1944.

August 14th 1944: This is possibly a Barracuda belonging to 768 Sqn based at RNAS Abbotsinch, used by a number of Air Force pilots receiving deck landing training for the top-secret Operation OXTAIL. The pilot overshot the mark when taxiing forward of the barrier after landing on and crashed onto the fo'c'sle. He was unhurt. (1)

Loan to the US Navy as a Transport Carrier

HMS RAJAH somewhere in the Pacific, her decks laden with US F6f-3s destined for Guam. © IWM A 28207

An unidentified group of crew mate on RAJAH somewhere in the Pacific on passage to Guam.

Operations as a Naval Troop Ship: November 1945 - November 1946

RAJAH and another, unidentified RN escort carrier passing in opposite directions through the Suez Canal during one of her troop voyages. Date unknown. It is assumed RAJAH is photographed from the other ship.

Late January 1946, Chatham: Men of the 45 Commando Royal Marines embarking in HMS RAJAH, preparing to sail for Hong Kong, where they joined the 3 Commando Brigade. © IWM (A 22527)

Late January 1946, Chatham: Men of the 45 Commando Royal Marines mustering on the flight deck of HMS RAJAH, preparing to sail for Hong Kong, where they joined the 3 Commando Brigade. © IWM (A 31116)

Late January 1946, Chatham: Motorcycles of Royal Marines 45 Commando hoisted onto the flight deck of HMS RAJAH for Hong Kong, where they joined the 3 Commando brigade. © IWM (A 31117)

Late January 1946: The vehicles and trailers of 45 Commando RM secured on the flight deck of RAJAH at Chatham just prior to her sailing for Hong Kong. © IWM (A 31118).

RAJAH entering Valletta harbour on August 21st 1946, on the outbound leg of her final troop voyage.

Ship's company

Early November 1944 in the eastern Mediterranean: crewmen watch a deck hockey match on the flight deck.

Early November 1944 in the western Mediterranean: A boxing tournament on the flight deck attended by the former Governor of Ceylon, Sir Andrew Caldecott, KCMG, CBE (seated centre, in hat) on passage to the UK. © IWM (A 26689)

Early November 1944 in the western Mediterranean: A boxing tournament on the flight deck on passage to the UK.

Xmas 1944: The ship’s galley lays on Christmas dinner while at sea with convoy UC.49B on passage to New York.

Xmas 1944: Junior rates tuck into Christmas dinner while at sea with convoy UC.49B on passage to New York.