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HMS Speaker (1943) CVE (3rd) |
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This the third ship to carry the name HMS Speaker was a Ruler
Class (1942) escort aircraft carrier. Built for the US Navy as USS
Delgada, CVE 40, and transferred to the Royal Navy under lease-lend
terms. Built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp, laid down 09-Oct-1942, launched 20-Feb-1943, transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned 20-Nov-1943. Modifications to meet Royal Navy requirements followed at Vancouver, and took until Jan-1944. Allocated to Western Approaches Command 25-Mar-1944 as a ferry carrier. Conversion to an assault carrier took from May-1944 to Sep-1944. Bt served as a deck-landing training carrier Oct to Dec-1944. After work up arrived at Sydney, Australia Feb-1945 and joined the British Pacific Fleet as an operational carrier until April when she changed roles to a replenishment carrier Leyte, Philippines. Served in this role until the end of the war with Japan, when she was the first allied carrier to enter Tokyo Bay on 29-Aug-1945. Carried out repatriation work for former POW's and internees which lasted until Oct-1945. Sailed for the UK from Sydney 30-Jan-1946 to de-store at the Clyde. Returned to the US Navy at Norfolk Navy Yard 17-Jul-1946. Later sold as the merchant ship Lancero. Renamed Presidente Osmena 1965. Renamed Lucky Star 1971 Broken up at Taiwan 1972. Won the Battle Honours: Atlantic 1944 and Okinawa 1945.
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This page last edited -
11 March, 2013.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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