HMS-THANE Gallery

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HMS THANE gallery

Images and memorabilia marked ♦ are from the private collection of CPO Radar Jack Browne; images marked with ♠ are from the private collection of Lt. (E) C. J. Kenna kindly supplied by his son Ray Kenna; images marked with ♣ are supplied by Mr. Paul Bass; images marked with ♥ are from the collection of the late Paymaster Lieutenant Eric H. Grieve-Brown RNR, kindly supplied by Mrs Maureen Ross. 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.

Launch and modification at Vancouver : July 1943 - July 1944

July 15th 1943 the christening and launch of the USS SUNSET at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. yard, Tacoma, Washington, by her sponsor Mrs. C. E. Taylor, wife of Commander C. E. Taylor USN.

July 15th 1943 the christening and launch of the USS SUNSET at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp.

Burrard's Dry Dock Vancouver: PATROLLER moored in berth 3 (nearest camera), and THANE in berth 4 during their modification period before sailing for RN service. Both have their flight deck extended; PATROLLER’s is in progress while THANE is more advanced. [Image: e000762205 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Photothèque / Library and Archives Canada

Burrard's Dry Dock Vancouver: THANE has moved forward into berth 5 and is having her twin Oerlikon 20mm gun mounts installed. PATROLLER is visible at berth 3 and moved over to berth 4 shortly after this. [Image: e000762200 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Photothèque / Library and Archives Canada].

HMS THANE in Dry Dock at Esquimalt British Colombia 10th - 14th June 1944 during modification before entering active service ♥

Believed to be the first instance of a marriage being performed on an RN aircraft carrier - one of the ship’s officers, Pay-Lieutenant Eric H. Grieve-Brown RNR married Flight Officer Muriel Anne Pennoyer RCAF (WD) on March 3rd 1944. Commander Eric McCausland, commanding officer HMS THANE performed the ceremony in the captain’s cabin.♥

Saturday July 1st 1944: Dedication ceremony on the flight deck - the church service was led by The Right Reverend Sir Francis Heathcote, Bishop of New Westminster B.C., followed by Admirals divisions.♥

Saturday July 1st 1944: Dedication ceremony on the flight deck.♥

Saturday July 1st 1944: Dedication ceremony on the flight deck. ♥

Admirals’ divisions after the dedication service, Rear Admiral V. G. Brodeur RCN, Commanding Officer, Pacific Coast inspecting. ♥

June 28th 1944 - HMS Thane has just passed under Lions Gate Bridge returning to Lapointe pier, Vancouver after collecting ammunition from Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington State. ♥

Late afternoon Saturday July 8th - a farewell party on the flight deck at which several hundred guests were entertained by the singing of Legler Coles' Debutantes accompanied by the Sandy de Santis’ band. ♥

Passage to Norfolk, Virginia : July 9th - 30th 1944

July 21st 1944, a US navy Air Ship exercises with HMS thane in the vicinity of San Francisco en route to the Panama Canal.

July 21st 1944, a US navy Air Ship exercises with HMS thane in the vicinity of San Francisco en route to the Panama Canal.♦

On passage to the Panama Canal: Giving the aircraft handling parties experience in how to manoeuvre aircraft around the flight deck using only manpower.

July 22nd 1944 a B-24 Liberator of the Panama Canal defence forces, circles Thane while practice is given in recovering a crashed aircraft, simulated by removing the undercarriage - the ship’s mobile crane is ready to move in to ‘recover’ it.

On passage to the Panama Canal: Practice at manoeuvring the RCAF Shark on to a ‘traveller’ – a device to allow aircraft to be parked, tails out over the side, in flight ready condition without obstructing the fight deck.

On nearing the Panama Canal, the obsolete aircraft is no longer needed and is perched ready to be ditched overboard.

On nearing the Panama Canal, the obsolete RCAF Shark been pushed overboard, her final gift to the ship is to become a target for the hip’s gunners.

On nearing the Panama Canal, the RCAF Shark falls behind the ship and is targeted to exercise the Port aft gun crews.

Wednesday July26th, Captain Baker presides over the buried at sea of Assistant Steward J. W. Newman who died of a perforated malignant ulcer shortly after the ship left Cristonal.

First Ferry Load: Norfolk, Virginia to Cape Town : August 14th - September 15th 1944

THANE’s flight deck covered with a cargo of Grumman Hellcat fighters for delivery to R. N. Air Maintenance yard Wingfield, Cape Town.♣

Crossing the line ceremony -those who have not crossed the equator before must pay homage to King Neptune and suffer unusual punishments at the hands of the Barber, the Surgeon, and the bears. The initiate is finally dunked in the foul concoction that fills the pool where the bears eagerly await their arrival. Notice that this ceremony was conducted in the confined spaces under the flight deck, which was completely covered with Hellcat aircraft. ♣

Captain and Officers of HMS THANE, Cape Town, September 3rd 1944. BACK ROW: Sub-Lt (E) Bushell RNVR, Sub-Lt (E) Arthur RNVR, Sub-Lt (E) Shipley RNVR, Sub-Lt (E) Thomson RNVR, Sub-Lt Smith RNVR, Lt (E) Bradford RNR, Sub-Lt (S) O’Connell RNR, Surg. Lt McNally RNVR, Paym. Lt Davies, RNR McCartney, Lt Couzens RNR, Lt Sharp RNVR, Surg. Lt' Osler RNVR, Lt Osborne, Sub-Lt Thomas. FRONT ROW: Lt (E) Kenna RNR, Lt Cdr (O) Hoare RCNVR, Lt Cdr Foxan RNR, Lt Cdr Goateley, Cdr Allan, Captain Baker, Major (P) Patch RM, Surg. Lt. Cdr Mitchell, Lt (S) Wiseman RNR, Lt Breden, Sub-Lt McKelvey RMVR, Lt Brown RNVR. ♥

Chief Petty Officers with the First Lieutenant, Cape Town, 3rd September 1944 BACK ROW: C.P.O.s Baldwin, Lord, Howells, Vansuckle, Caeeoll MIDDLE ROW: C.P.O.s Gilchrist, Bradley, More, Bentall, Dubois, Navim, Findlay FRONT ROW: C.P.O.s Thompson, Hodgson, Commander Allan, C.P.O.s Morris, Spencer . ♥

Unidentified department staff, Cape Town, 3rd September 1944

Shipwright department staff, Cape Town, 3rd September 1944 Petty Officer Harry Sheppard is seated far left – wearing Brown brogues., Chief Petty Officer Shipwright Thompson is seated second form the left. ♦

♦

Group of crew members from the communications staff (1) ♦

Group of crew members from the communications staff (2) ♦

Group of crew members from the communications staff (3) ♦

Group of crew members from the communications staff (4) ♦

Group of crew members from the communications staff (5) ♦

Ship's Dance on the hanger deck, possibly held at Cape Town. ♦

Third Ferry load UK to Adabiya, Egypt: November 6th - December 6th 1944

THANE transiting the Suez Canal on her way to the military port of Adabiya in the Gulf of Suez. ♥

THANE unloads her cargo of aircraft onto the quayside at the military harbour at Adabiya on the Gulf of Suez. ♥

Dinner held on board Thane for Lieutenant Colonel Cowley-Way R,M, at Suez. November 21st 1944. ♥

leaving Port Said statue of Lesseps in background. ♥

Fourth Ferry load Greenock to Norfolk and back: December 16th 1944 – January 15th 1945 and torpedoed

The members of 1851 Naval Air Squadron pictured at at USNAS Brunswick where it had formed and worked up. They embarked in THANE for passage to Belfast.

January 14th: Celebration dinner upon THANE's safely reaching Belfast on her final ferry run. Officers of 1851 squadron bidding farewell to THANE in the wardroom January 14th 1945.♥

At 13:28 on the 15th entering the swept channel to the Clyde River THANE was hit by a single torpedo on her starboard aft quarter tearing off her 5 “gun sponson and ripping a huge hole above and below the waterline. She is pictured here on January 17th moored to No. 1 Casualty Buoy on the Clyde where she arrived under tow at 07:42 on the 16th.♥

Still moored to No. 1 Casualty Buoy: Her starboard 5-inch gun sponson has been blown clean off the hull and a gaping hole extends below the water line. ♥

Still moored to No. 1 Casualty Buoy: this image shows that shrapnel and blast damage has peeled back sections of the flight deck walkway.♥

THANE docked in a floating dry dock on the Clyde, the torpedo damage is clearly visible. (1) ♥

THANE docked in a floating dry dock on the Clyde, the torpedo damage is clearly visible. (2)♥

THANE docked in a floating dry dock on the Clyde, the torpedo damage is clearly visible. (3) ♥

THANE docked in a floating dry dock on the Clyde, the torpedo damage is clearly visible. (4)♥ ♥

THANE docked in a floating dry dock on the Clyde, the torpedo damage is clearly visible. (5)♥

Members of the de-ammunitioning party pause amongst the many cases of live ammunition still to be carefully taken off he ship. ♥

Example of the live, but damaged, ammunition that had to be manhandled out of the magazines and carefully taken off he ship.♥

Captain Baker and senior naval officers inspect the ship. Several of the cargo of Hoverfly helicopters remain on board.♥

HMS THANE never returned to active service; she was laid up until after the war when she was broken for scrap. This photo shows her with her radar and armament removed prior to her disposal.