HMS Ruler: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1943 Ruler-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy}} |
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{{other ships|USS St. Joseph |
{{other ships|USS St. Joseph}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} |
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{{Use British English|date=January 2017}} |
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|Ship flag={{USN flag|1942}} |
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1942}} |
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|Ship name=USS ''St. Joseph'' |
|Ship name=USS ''St. Joseph'' |
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|Ship namesake= |
|Ship namesake=[[St. Joseph Bay]] in Florida |
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|Ship homeport= |
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|Ship fate= Transferred to [[Royal Navy]] |
|Ship fate= Transferred to [[Royal Navy]] |
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|Ship status= |
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|Ship notes= |
|Ship notes= |
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|Ship identification= |
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]] D72 (Atlantic) - R311/A731 (Pacific) |
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|Ship motto= |
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|Ship nickname= |
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|Ship honours= |
|Ship honours=*Atlantic 1944 |
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*Okinawa 1945 |
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|Ship captured= |
|Ship captured= |
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|Ship fate= Scrapped, 1946 |
|Ship fate= Scrapped, 1946 |
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|Ship status= |
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|Ship notes= |
|Ship notes= |
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|Ship badge= |
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|Header caption= |
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|Ship class=*{{sclass |
|Ship class=*{{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier}} (US) |
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*{{sclass |
*{{sclass|Ruler|escort carrier}} (UK) |
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|Ship type= |
|Ship type= |
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|Ship displacement= 15,390 tons |
|Ship displacement= 15,390 tons |
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|Ship EW= |
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|Ship armament=*2 × [[4"/50 caliber gun|4"/50]], [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38]] or [[5"/51 caliber gun|5"/51]] guns |
|Ship armament=*2 × [[4"/50 caliber gun|4"/50]], [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38]] or [[5"/51 caliber gun|5"/51]] guns |
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*8 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm |
*8 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] |
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*35 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] |
*35 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] |
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'''HMS ''Ruler''''' was |
'''HMS ''Ruler''''' was the [[lead ship]] of [[Ruler-class escort carrier|her class]] of [[escort carrier]] of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. She was built in the United States as the {{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier|0}} carrier '''''St. Joseph''''' (AVG/CVE/ACV-50) for [[Lend-Lease]] to the [[United Kingdom]]. |
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==Construction== |
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The name ''St. Joseph'' (making her the first [[United States Navy]] ship named for [[St. Joseph Bay]], [[Florida]]) was assigned to MC hull 261, a converted C3-S-A1 cargo ship, on 23 August 1942. She was laid down on 25 March 1943 by the [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]] of [[Tacoma, Washington]]. She was redesignated '''CVE-50''' on 15 July, launched on 21 August 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. W.W. Smyth. The carrier was transferred to the |
The name ''St. Joseph'' (making her the first [[United States Navy]] ship named for [[St. Joseph Bay]], [[Florida]]) was assigned to MC hull 261, a converted C3-S-A1 cargo ship, on 23 August 1942. She was laid down on 25 March 1943 by the [[Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation]] of [[Tacoma, Washington]]. She was redesignated '''CVE-50''' on 15 July, launched on 21 August 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. W.W. Smyth. The carrier was transferred to the United Kingdom on 22 December 1943 and commissioned into Royal Navy service the same day as HMS ''Ruler'', with the [[pennant number]] D72. |
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==Operational history== |
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After completing [[sea trials]] HMS ''Ruler'' went to [[Burrard Dry Dock]], in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], for refit to Royal Navy standards, as a [[escort carrier|transport carrier]]. Following a work-up period HMS ''Ruler'' went to [[Norfolk, Virginia]], via the [[Panama Canal]]. It departed on 20 April 1944 with a number of [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]] and [[Vought F4U Corsair]], transferring them to [[RNAS Speke]] in [[Liverpool]], England, the aircraft disembarking on 6 May 1944. HMS ''Ruler'' returned to the United States, to [[New York City|New York]], to fetch a batch of [[Grumman TBF Avenger]] and Grumman F6F Hellcat aircraft, embarking them between the 20 and 23 May 1944 and again transferring to RNAS Speke, on 11 June. HMS ''Ruler'' later made a third trip, fetching Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair from Norfolk, Virginia, between 20 and 29 October, this time arriving at [[Greenock]] to unload on 18 November.<ref name="HMSRuler">{{cite web|title=A History of H.M.S. RULER |url= https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/RULER.htm |work=Royal Navy Research Archive - Royal Navy Escort Carriers |access-date=14 November 2023}}</ref> |
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HMS ''Ruler'' served in the North [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] during 1944, protecting the vital flow of men and war [[wikt:materiel|materiel]] from the [[United States]] to [[Great Britain]] and to fighting fronts on the European continent. In early 1945, she transferred to the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theatre]] where she supported a [[Operation Inmate|raid on Truk]] and the [[Battle of Okinawa|campaign to take Okinawa]]. |
HMS ''Ruler'' served in the North [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] during 1944, protecting the vital flow of men and war [[wikt:materiel|materiel]] from the [[United States]] to [[Great Britain]] and to fighting fronts on the European continent. In early 1945, she transferred to the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theatre]] where she supported a [[Operation Inmate|raid on Truk]] and the [[Battle of Okinawa|campaign to take Okinawa]]. |
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From March to August 1945 was part of the [[British Pacific Fleet]] attached to the [[30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron]]. She entered [[Tokyo Bay]] on 31 August 1945 prior to the [[Surrender of Japan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ient |first=Victor |title=These Valiant Men |publisher=Troubadour Publishing |year=2020 |isbn=9781838594954 |pages=190}}</ref> On 13 September, the ship brought onboard some 450 ex Prisoners of War and sailed for [[Sydney]] in Australia, arriving 27 September where she was greeted by the Governor-General of Australia, [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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From March to August 1945 was part of the [[British Pacific Fleet]] attached to the [[30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron]]. |
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After the war ended, ''Ruler'' returned to the United States at [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on 28 January 1946. She was decommissioned from RN service on 29 January, and was accepted by the US Navy the same day. In excess of the Navy’s needs, she was slated for disposal and struck from the [[Navy Register]] on 20 March 1946. The ship was sold on 13 May and scrapped within the year. |
After the war ended, ''Ruler'' returned to the United States at [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on 28 January 1946. She was decommissioned from RN service on 29 January, and was accepted by the US Navy the same day. In excess of the Navy’s needs, she was slated for disposal and struck from the [[Navy Register]] on 20 March 1946. The ship was sold on 13 May and scrapped within the year. |
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These ships were all larger and had a greater aircraft capacity than the preceding American built escort carriers. They were also all laid down as escort carriers and not converted [[merchant ship]]s.<ref name=co82/> The ships had a complement of 646 men and an [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|492|ft|3|in|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|69|ft|6|in|1}} and a draught of {{Convert|25|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co82>Cocker (2008), p.82.</ref> Propulsion was provided by two boilers which were connected to a steam turbine; it drove a shaft giving 9,350 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|brake horsepower]] (SHP), which could propel the ship at {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=co79>Cocker (2008), p.79.</ref> |
These ships were all larger and had a greater aircraft capacity than the preceding American built escort carriers. They were also all laid down as escort carriers and not converted [[merchant ship]]s.<ref name=co82/> The ships had a complement of 646 men and an [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|492|ft|3|in|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|69|ft|6|in|1}} and a draught of {{Convert|25|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co82>Cocker (2008), p.82.</ref> Propulsion was provided by two boilers which were connected to a steam turbine; it drove a shaft giving 9,350 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower|brake horsepower]] (SHP), which could propel the ship at {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=co79>Cocker (2008), p.79.</ref> |
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Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge/flight control on the [[starboard]] side, two aircraft lifts {{convert|43|ft|1}} by {{convert|34|ft|1}}, one [[aircraft catapult]] and nine [[Arresting gear|arrestor wires]].<ref name=co82>Cocker (2008), p.82.</ref> Aircraft could be housed in the {{convert|260|ft|1}} by {{convert|62|ft|1}} hangar below the flight deck.<ref name=co82/> ''Ruler''{{'}}s armament comprised: two [[4"/50 caliber gun|4"/50]], [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38]] or [[5"/51 caliber gun|5"/51]] [[Dual purpose gun|Dual Purpose]] guns in single mounts, sixteen [[Bofors 40 mm |
Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge/flight control on the [[starboard]] side, two aircraft lifts {{convert|43|ft|1}} by {{convert|34|ft|1}}, one [[aircraft catapult]] and nine [[Arresting gear|arrestor wires]].<ref name=co82>Cocker (2008), p.82.</ref> Aircraft could be housed in the {{convert|260|ft|1}} by {{convert|62|ft|1}} hangar below the flight deck.<ref name=co82/> ''Ruler''{{'}}s armament comprised: two [[4"/50 caliber gun|4"/50]], [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38]] or [[5"/51 caliber gun|5"/51]] [[Dual purpose gun|Dual Purpose]] guns in single mounts, sixteen [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s in twin mounts and twenty [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm Oerlikon]] anti-aircraft cannons in single mounts.<ref name=co82/> Each ship had a maximum aircraft capacity of twenty-four aircraft which could be a mixture of [[Grumman Martlet]]s, [[Vought F4U Corsair]]s or [[Hawker Hurricane variants#Sea Hurricanes|Hawker Sea Hurricane]] [[fighter aircraft]] and [[Fairey Swordfish]] or [[Grumman Avenger]] [[anti-submarine]] torpedo bombers.<ref name=co82/> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{Commons category|HMS Ruler (D72)}} |
{{Commons category|HMS Ruler (D72)}} |
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* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s17/st_joseph.htm |
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s17/st_joseph.htm history.navy.mil: USS ''St. Joseph''] |
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/050.htm |
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/050.htm navsource.org: USS ''St. Joseph''] |
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* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/carriers/cve50.txt |
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/carriers/cve50.txt hazegray.org: USS ''St. Joseph''] |
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{{Bogue class escort carrier}} |
{{Bogue class escort carrier}} |
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{{Type C3-S-A1 ships}} |
{{Type C3-S-A1 ships}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruler (D72)}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruler (D72)}} |
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[[Category:Ships built in |
[[Category:Ships built in Tacoma, Washington]] |
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[[Category:1943 ships]] |
[[Category:1943 ships]] |
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[[Category:Ruler-class escort carriers]] |
[[Category:Ruler-class escort carriers]] |
Latest revision as of 21:42, 14 December 2023
HMS Ruler in January 1945
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | USS St. Joseph |
Namesake | St. Joseph Bay in Florida |
Builder | Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation |
Laid down | 25 March 1943 |
Launched | 21 August 1943 |
Fate | Transferred to Royal Navy |
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Ruler |
Commissioned | 22 December 1943 |
Decommissioned | 29 January 1946 |
Stricken | 20 March 1946 |
Identification | Pennant number D72 (Atlantic) - R311/A731 (Pacific) |
Honours and awards |
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Fate | Scrapped, 1946 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type |
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Displacement | 15,390 tons |
Length | 492 ft (150 m) |
Beam | 108 ft 6 in (33.07 m) |
Draught | 26 ft (7.9 m) |
Propulsion | Steam turbines, 1 shaft, 8,500 shp (6.3 MW) |
Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h) |
Complement | 646 officers and men |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 30 |
Service record | |
Part of: | British Pacific Fleet |
Operations: | Battle of Okinawa |
HMS Ruler was the lead ship of her class of escort carrier of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built in the United States as the Bogue-class carrier St. Joseph (AVG/CVE/ACV-50) for Lend-Lease to the United Kingdom.
Construction
[edit]The name St. Joseph (making her the first United States Navy ship named for St. Joseph Bay, Florida) was assigned to MC hull 261, a converted C3-S-A1 cargo ship, on 23 August 1942. She was laid down on 25 March 1943 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation of Tacoma, Washington. She was redesignated CVE-50 on 15 July, launched on 21 August 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. W.W. Smyth. The carrier was transferred to the United Kingdom on 22 December 1943 and commissioned into Royal Navy service the same day as HMS Ruler, with the pennant number D72.
Operational history
[edit]After completing sea trials HMS Ruler went to Burrard Dry Dock, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for refit to Royal Navy standards, as a transport carrier. Following a work-up period HMS Ruler went to Norfolk, Virginia, via the Panama Canal. It departed on 20 April 1944 with a number of Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair, transferring them to RNAS Speke in Liverpool, England, the aircraft disembarking on 6 May 1944. HMS Ruler returned to the United States, to New York, to fetch a batch of Grumman TBF Avenger and Grumman F6F Hellcat aircraft, embarking them between the 20 and 23 May 1944 and again transferring to RNAS Speke, on 11 June. HMS Ruler later made a third trip, fetching Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair from Norfolk, Virginia, between 20 and 29 October, this time arriving at Greenock to unload on 18 November.[1]
HMS Ruler served in the North Atlantic during 1944, protecting the vital flow of men and war materiel from the United States to Great Britain and to fighting fronts on the European continent. In early 1945, she transferred to the Pacific Theatre where she supported a raid on Truk and the campaign to take Okinawa.
From March to August 1945 was part of the British Pacific Fleet attached to the 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron. She entered Tokyo Bay on 31 August 1945 prior to the Surrender of Japan.[2] On 13 September, the ship brought onboard some 450 ex Prisoners of War and sailed for Sydney in Australia, arriving 27 September where she was greeted by the Governor-General of Australia, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.[2]
After the war ended, Ruler returned to the United States at Norfolk, Virginia, on 28 January 1946. She was decommissioned from RN service on 29 January, and was accepted by the US Navy the same day. In excess of the Navy’s needs, she was slated for disposal and struck from the Navy Register on 20 March 1946. The ship was sold on 13 May and scrapped within the year.
Design and description
[edit]These ships were all larger and had a greater aircraft capacity than the preceding American built escort carriers. They were also all laid down as escort carriers and not converted merchant ships.[3] The ships had a complement of 646 men and an overall length of 492 feet 3 inches (150.0 m), a beam of 69 feet 6 inches (21.2 m) and a draught of 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m).[3] Propulsion was provided by two boilers which were connected to a steam turbine; it drove a shaft giving 9,350 brake horsepower (SHP), which could propel the ship at 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).[4]
Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge/flight control on the starboard side, two aircraft lifts 43 feet (13.1 m) by 34 feet (10.4 m), one aircraft catapult and nine arrestor wires.[3] Aircraft could be housed in the 260 feet (79.2 m) by 62 feet (18.9 m) hangar below the flight deck.[3] Ruler's armament comprised: two 4"/50, 5"/38 or 5"/51 Dual Purpose guns in single mounts, sixteen 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns in twin mounts and twenty 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons in single mounts.[3] Each ship had a maximum aircraft capacity of twenty-four aircraft which could be a mixture of Grumman Martlets, Vought F4U Corsairs or Hawker Sea Hurricane fighter aircraft and Fairey Swordfish or Grumman Avenger anti-submarine torpedo bombers.[3]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Cocker, Maurice (2008). Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4633-2.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.