H.M.S. RULER Gallery

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HMS RULER gallery

Images marked ♣are from the private collection of AB (Radar) John Harriso,n who served on the RULER from September 1944. 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 (RULER ) 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 (RULER ) 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

December 22nd 1943: The completed CVE-50 was transferred to Royal Navy custody at Tacoma. Washington. Commander R. E. Cowell, RD RNR, the ship’s executive officer, read out the Commissioning Warrant before the crew assembled on the Flight Deck, and the White Ensign was hoisted, commissioning her as HMS RULER.(1) ♣

Modification period and workup 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

High and dry in the floating dock at Burrard’s North Yard, Vancouver. Stern view. RULER spent three days in dock for remedial work before returning to No 7 berth on February 22nd 1944, where her alterations were completed. Photo courtesy CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Neg: VR995.30.08

High and dry in the floating dock at Burrard’s North Yard, Vancouver. Bow view. PREMIER spent three days in dock for remedial work before returning to No 7 berth on February 22nd 1944, where her alterations were completed. Photo courtesy CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Neg: VR995.30.22

March 1944, Gunnery exercises off Vancouver: The starboard aft anti-aircraft armament (a twin 40mm Bofors mount nearest the camera and 6 single 20mm Oerlikon mounts along the deck edge walkway) conducts a daytime shoot.

March 1944, Gunnery exercises off Vancouver: The starboard 5” gun is fired during a night shoot.

March 1944, RULER underway, possibly on passage from Vancouver to Bilbao to enter the Panama Canal en route to Norfolk, Virginia.

Aircraft ferry duty

October 1944? RULER employed on her third aircraft ferry voyage, having loaded 66 aircraft, a mix of Hellcats and Corsairs, at Norfolk, Virginia, and New York before joining a convoy to the UK.

November 1944? RULER at anchor at Greenock after unloading her third ferry load of airframes from America.

885 Squadron joins the ship: December 1944

c. December 19th 1944: Hellcats from 885 Squadron are ranged aft on the flight deck as the ship and squadron begin a flying training and general workup program in the Irish Sea.

c. December 19th 1944: A Hellcat from 885 Squadron has suffered a barrier crash as the ship and squadron undertake a flying training and general workup program in the Irish Sea.

c. December 22nd 1944: A Hellcat from 885 Squadron (possibly JV235) has been stopped by the crash barrier and has ended up pitched onto its nose as the ship and squadron undertake a flying training and general workup program in the Irish Sea.

c. December 1944: A Hellcat from 885 Squadron has been stopped by the crash barrier but has swung hard to starboard while on its nose and hit the starboard barrier stanchion and narrowly missed impacting the bridge emergency escape ladder. (1)

with the British Pacific Fleet

c. January 1945: RULER is alongside Airport Wharf at the RN Aircraft Maintenance Yard, Belfast, on a winter's morning preparing to sail for Australia. Her flight deck is packed; Fireflies belonging to 1772 Squadron are parked five abreast in the foreground, with the remainder of the deck being covered with reserve Hellcats. The aircraft belonging to 885 Squadron are stowed in the hangar. © IWM A 28797

c. January 1945: Another shot of RULER alongside Airport Wharf at the RN Aircraft Maintenance Yard, Belfast, on a winter's morning, preparing to sail for Australia.

February 17th 1945: RULER passing through the Suez Canal on passage to Australia via Colombo.

March 16th 1945: RULER, having passed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, making her way to Pyrmont No 12 berth to disembark her ferry load and the Fireflies of 1772 Squadron.

April 5th. 1945: Firefly MB381 ('4B'), of 1772 Squadron, piloted by their commanding officer. Lt. Cdr L. C. Wort DSC RNVR, hit the barrier and had its undercarriage removed during a disastrous deck landing training session.

April 5th. 1945: Firefly MB381 ('4B'), of 1772 Squadron, having had its undercarriage removed in a barrier crash during a disastrous deck landing training session, is made safe by the flight deck party in readiness for its recovery.

c. April 1945: RULER at sea with Hellcats of 885 Squadron overhead on passage to the Logistic Support Group at Leyte in the Philippines.

Hellcat FN415 has been arrested by the crash barrier after damaging its arrester hook on the rounddown. Although not worn on the aircraft's fuselage, it carries the ID letter ‘W’ on the undercarriage fairings. Date and pilot unknown.

The scene after the impact of a serious crash on landing involving 885 Squadron Hellcats. It appears one aircraft either cleared or broke through the crash barriers and entered the deck park, ending up on its nose after taking the wingtip of another as it passed by. Records for this incident have not been located.

RULER transferring mail or important documents via light jackstay somewhere in the Pacific. Often incorrectly identified as the destroyer ARMANDA, this is most likely to be QUADRANT (BPF pennant number D17), which was present at the rendezvous between the BPF and the LSG during fleet replenishment periods during Operation ICEBERG II and later operations against the Japanese mainland.

Commander Sir M. Culme-Seymour RN, RULER’s executive officer being transferred to/from a destroyer via a breeches buoy during a BPF replenishment period in the Pacific, date unknown.

In this image taken from the flight deck on RULER, a Tanker is simultaneously fuelling two destroyers using the abeam method and RULER herself through a hose streamed astern. RULER remained on station with the Commander of the Logistic Support Group and the nucleus of the replenishment force for 28 days during Operation ICEBERG II. These vessels relied on the Fleet Train tankers to keep them supplied with fuel and, to a lesser degree, stores and provisions.

The island of Ponam, just north of Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands, was the location of the BPF intermediate base, almost exactly halfway in the BPF supply chain, which stretched from Sydney to Manus (2,300 miles from Sydney) and from Manus to Leyte, the forward base (a further 2.280 miles). RULER put 885 Squadron ashore here to Ponam in June 1945 while she took part in Operation INMATE, the bulk of the BPF having withdrawn to Sydney on completion of ICEBERG II.

The Royal Marine Band from HMS SWIFTSURE rose onto Ruler's flight deck in Seadler Harbour, Manus, in June 1945 to Beat Retreat following the successful Operation INMATE. The force had returned to Manus on the morning of the 17th.

July 88th 1945: A lifeboat coming aboard the Australian Destroyer NEPAL after rescuing a British airman from 885 Squadron lost from RULER. NEPAL was part of the British Pacific Fleet en route to operations off Japan. (Photographer: Australian war artist Captain J. C. Goodchild)

July 18TH 1945: RULER photographed from HMAS NEPAL in the refuelling area east of Japan. Possibly to rendezvous and return the pilot rescued 10 days earlier. (Photographer: Australian war artist Captain J. C. Goodchild)

The war is over: repatriating PoWs and civilian internees from Japan

September 2nd 1945: Sunday divisions are held on the flight deck commencing at 09:30, followed by a special service of thanksgiving on the morning of the Japanese surrender signing due to the presence on board the USS MISSOURI between 11:00 & 12:00. (1)

September 15th 1945: RULER’s ship's company manned the side for leaving Tokyo Bay with 445 released POWs and Internees on board, passing the C-in-C's flagship. HMS Duke of York as she leaves harbour bound for Sydney.

A group of British prisoners of war released from a Japanese prison camp with one of 885 Squadron’s Avengers on board HMS RULER as she sets out to take them to Australia.

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

September 27th 1945: Former POWs and internees gather on the flight deck as RULER proceeds through Sydney Harbour on approach to their assigned berth No. 14, Pyrmont. (1)

September 27th 1945: Former POWs and internees gather on the flight deck as RULER proceeds through Sydney Harbour on approach to their assigned berth No. 14, Pyrmont. (2)

September 27th 1945: RULER, aided by a harbour tug, approaches No. 14 berth, Pyrmont, where she secured at 11:54 after sailing direct from Tokyo Bay, Japan, carrying 445 released POWs and Internees. Naval personnel on the quayside wait to greet them.

September 27th 1945, 11:54 am: RULER secures No. 14 berth, Pyrmont after sailing direct from Tokyo Bay, Japan, carrying 445 released POWs and internees, many of whom are staring down at the quayside from the flight deck.

c. October 1945?: RULER wearing her temporary BPF pennant number ‘A731’ passing through Sydney Harbour after being stood down from active duty with the BPF in readiness for return to the UK.

Final days

May 12th 1946: A tired-looking CVE-50 alongside Pier 10 at Norfolk Navy Yard is pictured with the USS Missouri at Pier 9, which was the venue for the Japanese surrender signing in Tokyo Bay, at which historic moment RULER had been present. RULER had been returned to US custody on January 29th 1946, and was sold nineteen days after this photo was taken, sadly, for breaking for scrap.Image via Navsource.net