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HMS Pretoria Castle (1943) CVE  (1st)

Built by Harland & Wolff, as a Union Castle Line, cargo liner; launched 12-Oct-1938. Requisitioned at the outbreak of WW2 and converted to an armed merchant cruiser.

Commissioned 28-Nov-1939 and deployed to the South Atlantic based at Freetown and mainly used for convoy escort duty.

Nominated early 1942 for conversion to an escort aircraft carrier and returned to the UK May-1942.

Bought by the Admiralty 16-Jul-1942 and converted to an escort carrier by Swan Hunter. Commissioned 09-Apr-1943.

Used as a training and trials carrier.

Decommissioned 1945. Paid off 21-Mar-1946, converted back to a cargo ship and renamed Warwick Castle.

Scrapped 1962 and arrived in Spain for breaking up Sep-1962.

Won the Battle Honour: Atlantic 1940-42.

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Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.