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HMS Premier (1943) CVE  (1st)

 a Ruler Class (1942) escort aircraft carrier. Built for the US Navy as USS Estero, CVE 42, and transferred to the Royal Navy under lease-lend terms.

Built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp in Seattle, laid down 31-Oct-1942, launched 22-Mar-1943, transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned 03-Nov-1943.

Modifications to meet Royal Navy requirements followed at Vancouver until 09-Jan-1944.

On arrival in the UK was appointed to Western Approaches Command as a ferry carrier. Continued with this until 12-Jul-1944 when she was designated an operational carrier. Conversion work for this continued until 11-Sep-1944.

Served with the Home Fleet Nov-1944 to May-1945 when she served as a deck-landing training carrier based in the Clyde until Nov-1945.

De-stored at Rosyth Nov-1945 and was returned to the US Navy at Norfolk, Virginia 12-Apr-1946.

Won the Battle Honours: Atlantic 1944, Arctic 1945 and Norway 1945.

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Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.