Jump to content

HMS Dasher (D37): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 55°36′38″N 5°00′06″W / 55.61056°N 5.00167°W / 55.61056; -5.00167
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
Line 65: Line 65:


'''HMS ''Dasher'' (D37)''' was a British [[Royal Navy]] [[aircraft carrier]], of the [[Avenger class escort carrier|''Avenger'' class]] – converted merchant vessels – and one of the shortest lived [[Escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]]s.
'''HMS ''Dasher'' (D37)''' was a British [[Royal Navy]] [[aircraft carrier]], of the [[Avenger class escort carrier|''Avenger'' class]] – converted merchant vessels – and one of the shortest lived [[Escort aircraft carrier|escort carrier]]s.

==Design and description==
The [[Avenger class escort carrier]]s were converted [[United States|American]] [[merchant ship]]s. Their design was based on the [[U.S. Navy]] [[Long Island class escort carrier]] (AVG1). To differentiate between the two classes, the Royal Navy ships were prefixed with a 'B' (BAVG). HMS ''Avenger'' (BAVG2) was built by the [[Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.|Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company]]. Originally named the ''Rio-Hudson'', she was laid down 28 November 1939, launched on 27 November 1940 and delivered 31 July 1941.<ref name=co78>Cocker (2008), p.78.</ref><ref name=po29/><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=1 October 2010|publisher=Ship Building History|title=Sun Shipbuilding, Chester PA|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/1major/inactive/sun.htm}}</ref> She was converted to an [[escort aircraft carrier]] in the [[Bethlehem Steel]] yards at [[Staten Island]] and commissioned into the [[Royal Navy]] on 2 March 1942.<ref name=po38>Poolman (1972), p.38.</ref>

''Avenger'' had a complement of 555 men and an [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|492.25|ft}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|66.25|ft}} and a height of {{Convert|23.25|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co78/> She displaced {{convert|8200|LT|t|abbr=on|lk=on}} at normal load and {{convert|9000|LT|t|abbr=on}} at [[deep load]]. Propulsion was provided by four diesel engines connected to one shaft giving 8,500 [[Horsepower#Brake horsepower|brake horsepower]], which could propel the ship at {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=on}}.<ref name=co79>Cocker (2008), p.79.</ref>

Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge–flight control on the [[starboard]] side and above the {{convert|410|ft|sing=on}} long wooden flight deck, one aircraft lift {{convert|43|ft}} by {{convert|34|ft}}, one [[Aircraft catapult|aircraft catapult]] and nine [[Arresting gear|arrestor wires]]. Aircraft could be housed in the {{convert|190|ft}} by {{convert|47|ft}} half hanger below the flight deck.<ref name=co79/><ref name=po29>Poolman (1972), p.29.</ref> Armament comprised three single mounted [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|4&nbsp;inch]] dual purpose [[anti-aircraft]] guns two forward and one aft and fifteen [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20&nbsp;mm cannon]] on single or twin mounts.<ref name=co79/> She had the capacity for fifteen aircraft which could be a mixture of [[Grumman Martlet]] or [[Hawker Sea Hurricane]] [[fighter aircraft]] and [[Fairey Swordfish]] [[anti-submarine]] aircraft.<ref name=co79/>


==Career==
==Career==

Revision as of 05:27, 3 October 2010

HMS Dasher
History
RN Ensign
NameHMS Dasher
BuilderSun Shipbuilding
Laid down14 March 1940
Launched12 April 1941
Commissioned2 July 1942
Renamedbuilt as Rio de Janeiro, renamed Dasher 2 July 1942
FateSunk by internal explosion 27 March 1943
General characteristics
Displacement8,200 tons
Length492.25 ft (150.04 m)
Beam66.25 ft (20.19 m)
Draught23.25 ft (7.09 m)
Propulsionlist error: <br /> list (help)
William Doxford & Sons diesels, 1 shaft
8,500 BHP
Speed16.5 kn (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h)
Complement555
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
3 x 4 inch DP,AA guns in single mounts
15 x 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons in single or twin mounts
Aircraft carried15
Aviation facilitieslist error: <br /> list (help)
Hanger 190 feet (58 m) x 47 feet (14 m)
one42 feet (13 m) x 34 feet (10 m) lifts
9 arrestor wires
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Dasher.

HMS Dasher (D37) was a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier, of the Avenger class – converted merchant vessels – and one of the shortest lived escort carriers.

Design and description

The Avenger class escort carriers were converted American merchant ships. Their design was based on the U.S. Navy Long Island class escort carrier (AVG1). To differentiate between the two classes, the Royal Navy ships were prefixed with a 'B' (BAVG). HMS Avenger (BAVG2) was built by the Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Originally named the Rio-Hudson, she was laid down 28 November 1939, launched on 27 November 1940 and delivered 31 July 1941.[1][2][3] She was converted to an escort aircraft carrier in the Bethlehem Steel yards at Staten Island and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 2 March 1942.[4]

Avenger had a complement of 555 men and an overall length of 492.25 feet (150.04 m), a beam of 66.25 feet (20.19 m) and a height of 23.25 ft (7.09 m).[1] She displaced 8,200 long tons (8,300 t) at normal load and 9,000 long tons (9,100 t) at deep load. Propulsion was provided by four diesel engines connected to one shaft giving 8,500 brake horsepower, which could propel the ship at 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).[5]

Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge–flight control on the starboard side and above the 410-foot (120 m) long wooden flight deck, one aircraft lift 43 feet (13 m) by 34 feet (10 m), one aircraft catapult and nine arrestor wires. Aircraft could be housed in the 190 feet (58 m) by 47 feet (14 m) half hanger below the flight deck.[5][2] Armament comprised three single mounted 4 inch dual purpose anti-aircraft guns two forward and one aft and fifteen 20 mm cannon on single or twin mounts.[5] She had the capacity for fifteen aircraft which could be a mixture of Grumman Martlet or Hawker Sea Hurricane fighter aircraft and Fairey Swordfish anti-submarine aircraft.[5]

Career

Dasher started out as the merchantman Rio de Janeiro built by Sun Shipbuilding (Maritime Commission contract (Hull Sun-62)). She was laid down on 14 March 1940, launched on 12 April 1941 and acquired by the United States Navy on 20 May 1941 as AVG-5 (also known as BAVG-5). She was converted at Tietjen & Lang, transferred to the Royal Navy and finally commissioned into RN service as HMS Dasher (D37) on 2 July 1942.

She participated in Operation Torch, with her sister HMS Biter, carrying Sea Hurricanes (naval variant of the Hawker Hurricane) of 804 Naval Air Squadron which were effective against Vichy French Dewoitine D.520 fighter aircraft.

After doing some aircraft ferry operations in the Mediterranean, Dasher sailed to the Clyde in March 1943 and, having had her flight-deck lengthened by 42 feet, she embarked Fairey Swordfish aircraft.

She escorted one convoy successfully, but shortly after leaving with the second, Dasher suffered engine trouble and turned back. Shortly after getting to the Firth of Clyde on 27 March 1943, she suffered a major internal explosion and sank.

Loss

Various possible causes have been suggested, including one of her aircraft crashing onto the flight deck and igniting petrol fumes from leaking tanks. Much of what happened will never be known, because of an official cover-up aimed at concealing what was the largest loss of life not in the face of the enemy of the war.[citation needed] Her death toll, 379 out of 528 crewmen, despite rapid response and assistance from ships and rescue craft from Brodick and Lamlash on the Isle of Arran and from Ardrossan and Greenock on the Scottish mainland, was amongst the highest in British home waters. Many escaped the ship but died of hypothermia or burns suffered when escaped fuel ignited on the water. Most of the dead were buried at Ardrossan or Greenock.

The government of the time, eager to avoid damage to morale and anxious to avoid any suggestion of faulty US construction, tried to cover up the sinking. The local media were ordered to make no reference to the tragedy, and the authorities ordered the dead to be buried in a mass unmarked grave. Furious relatives protested and some of the dead were returned to their loved ones for burial. The survivors were ordered not to talk about what happened. This policy subsequently attracted much criticism, and now memorials to those lost exist at both Ardrossan and Brodick. The wreck site lies approximately halfway on the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry route between Ardrossan and Brodick and is a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act.

Teak boards from the flightdeck of HMS Dasher washed up on the beach at Ardrossan in 1999.[1] They were riddled with tubes made by burrowing teredo worms. A section of this wood featured in the "Flotsam and Jetsam" exhibition in the Millennium Dome and another piece is held by the North Ayrshire Museum in Saltcoats.

There has been speculation that one corpse from the sinking was used during the British deception operation, Operation Mincemeat. The case is argued by authors John and Noreen Steele in their book, The Secrets of HMS "Dasher".

References

  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • SI 2008/950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986

See also

Further reading

  • Steele, J&D. They were never told: The tragedy of HMS Dasher

External links


55°36′38″N 5°00′06″W / 55.61056°N 5.00167°W / 55.61056; -5.00167

  1. ^ a b Cocker (2008), p.78.
  2. ^ a b Poolman (1972), p.29.
  3. ^ "Sun Shipbuilding, Chester PA". Ship Building History. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  4. ^ Poolman (1972), p.38.
  5. ^ a b c d Cocker (2008), p.79.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Dasher_(D37)&oldid=388414772"