# List of escort carriers of the Royal Navy

The escort aircraft carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the RN, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy in the Second World War. They were typically half the length and one-third the displacement of the larger fleet carriers. While they were slower, less armed, unarmoured and carried fewer aircraft, they were less expensive and could be built more quickly. This was their principal advantage, as escort carriers could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. However, the lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier (hull classification symbol CVL) was a similar concept to escort carriers in most respects, but they were designed for higher speeds for deployment with fleet carriers.
Escort carriers were too slow to keep up with the main forces consisting of fleet carriers, battleships, and cruisers. Instead, they were used to defend convoys from enemy threats such as submarines and planes. In the invasions of mainland Europe and Pacific islands, escort carriers provided air support to ground forces during amphibious operations. Escort carriers also served as backup aircraft transports for fleet carriers and ferried aircraft of all military services to points of delivery.
In addition, escort carriers such as HMS Vindex and HMS Nairana played an important role in hunter-killer anti-submarine sweeps in company with RN and RCN destroyers, frigates and corvettes (e.g. 6th Canadian Escort Group and 2nd British Escort Group). HMS Vindex is credited with the sinking, or taking part in the sinking, of four U-boats (U344, U653, U765, U394).
Escort carriers should not be confused with the Merchant Aircraft Carrier or CAM ship.

## Key

| Main guns | The number and type of the main battery guns |
| Displacement | Ship displacement at full combat load |
| Propulsion | Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated |
| Service | The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate |
| Laid down | The date the keel began to be assembled |
| Commissioned | The date the ship was commissioned |

### Audacity

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Converted | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Audacity | 8 | 11,000 long tons (11,177 t) | 2 diesels, 1 shaft | 1941 | 17 June 1941 | Sunk by torpedoes from U-751 21 December 1941 |

### Long Island class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Converted | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Archer | 16 | 12,860 long tons (13,066 t) | 4 x diesels driving 1 shaft | 1941 | 18 November 1941 | Became Empire Lagan 1946 |

### Avenger class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Converted | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Avenger | 15 | 14,500 long tons (14,733 t) | 2 diesels, 1 shaft | 27 November 1940 | 2 March 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk west of Gibraltar by U-155 on 15 November 1942 |
| HMS Biter | 15 | 14,500 long tons (14,733 t) | 2 diesels, 1 shaft | 8 December 1940 | 1 May 1942. | Sold to France and renamed Dixmude 1945 |
| HMS Dasher | 15 | 14,500 long tons (14,733 t) | 2 diesels, 1 shaft | 12 April 1941 | 1 July 1942 | Destroyed by an aviation fuel explosion on 27 March. 1943 |

### Attacker class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Battler | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 15 April 1941 | 15 November 1942 | Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946 |
| HMS Attacker | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 17 April 1941 | 10 October 1942 | Returned to the USN on 5 January 1946 |
| HMS Hunter | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 22 May 1942 | 11 January 1943 | Returned to the USN on 29 December 1945 |
| HMS Chaser | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 28 June 1941 | 9 April 1943 | Returned to the USN on 12 May 1946 |
| HMS Fencer | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 5 September 1941 | 20 February 1943 | Returned to the USN on 11 December 1946 |
| HMS Stalker | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 6 October 1941 | 30 December 1942 | Returned to the USN on 29 December 1945 |
| HMS Pursuer | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 31 July 1941 | 14 June 1943 | Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946 |
| HMS Striker | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 15 December 1941 | 29 April 1943 | Returned to the USN on 12 February 1946 |
| HMS Searcher | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 20 February 1942 | 7 April 1943 | Returned to the USN on 29 November 1945 |
| HMS Ravager | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 11 April 1942 | 26 April 1943 | Returned to the USN on 26 February 1946 |
| HMS Tracker | 24 | 9,800 long tons (9,957 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 2 Westinghouse geared turbines driving 1 shaft | 3 November 1941 | 31 January 1943 | Returned to the USN on 29 November 1945 |

### Ruler class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Slinger | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 25 May 1942 | 11 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 27 February 1946 |
| HMS Atheling | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 9 June 1942 | 31 July 1943 | Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946 |
| HMS Emperor | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 23 June 1942 | 6 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 4 February 1946 |
| HMS Ameer | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 18 July 1942 | 20 July 1943 | Returned to the USN on 17 January 1946 |
| HMS Begum | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 3 August 1942 | 2 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 4 January 1946 |
| HMS Trumpeter | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 25 August 1942 | 4 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 6 April 1946 |
| HMS Empress | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 9 September 1942 | 9 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 4 February 1946 |
| HMS Khedive | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 30 December 1942 | 25 August 1943 | Returned to the USN on 26 January 1946 |
| HMS Speaker | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 9 October 1942 | 20 November 1943 | Returned to the USN on 17 July 1946 |
| HMS Nabob | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 20 October 1942 | 7 September 1943, into the Royal Canadian Navy under Royal Navy control | Returned to USN 16 March 1945 |
| HMS Premier | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 31 October 1942 | 3 November 1943 | Returned to the USN on 2 April 1946 |
| HMS Shah | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 13 November 1942 | 27 September 1943 | Returned to the USN on 6 December 1945 |
| HMS Patroller | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 27 November 1942 | 25 October 1943 | Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946 |
| HMS Rajah | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 17 December 1942 | 17 January 1944 | Returned to the USN on 13 December 1946 |
| HMS Ranee | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 5 January 1943 | 8 November 1943 | Returned to the USN on 21 November 1946 |
| HMS Trouncer | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 1 January 1943 | 31 January 1944 | Returned to the USN 3 March 1946 |
| HMS Thane | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 22 February 1943 | 19 November 1943 | Returned to the USN on 5 December 1945 |
| HMS Queen | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 12 March 1943 | 7 December 1943 | Returned to the USN on 31 October 1946 |
| HMS Ruler | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 21 March 1943 | 22 December 1943 | Returned to the USN on 29 January 1946 |
| HMS Arbiter | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 26 April 1943 | 31 December 1943 | Returned to the USN on 3 March 1946 |
| HMS Smiter | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 10 May 1943 | 20 January 1944 | Returned to the USN on 6 April 1946 |
| HMS Puncher | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 21 May 1943 | 5 February 1944, into the Royal Canadian Navy under Royal Navy control | Returned to the USN on 16 January 1946 |
| HMS Reaper | 24 | 14,000 long tons (14,225 t) | 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 2 Westinghouse geared turbines, 1 shaft | 5 June 1943 | 21 February 1944 | Returned to the USN on 20 May 1946 |

### Activity

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Activity | 10 | 14,250 long tons (14,479 t) | 2 × diesel engines | 1 February 1940 | 1944 | Sold in March 1946 |

### Nairana class

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Nairana | 15–20 | 14,050 long tons (14,275 t) | 2 sets 5-cylinder Doxford Diesels. 2 shafts | 20 May 1943 | 12 December 1943 | Transferred to Netherlands 20 March 1946 |
| HMS Vindex | 15–20 | 16,830 long tons (17,100 t) | | 1 July 1942 | 3 December 1943 | Sold 1947 and became MS Port Vindex |
| HMS Campania | 15–20 | 16,830 long tons (17,100 t) | | 1 July 1942 | 3 December 1943 | Sold 1947 and became MS Port Victor |

### Pretoria Castle

| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | Service | Service |
| Ship | Aircraft | Displacement | Propulsion | Laid down | Commissioned | Fate |
| HMS Pretoria Castle | 15 | 23,450 long tons (23,826 t) | 2-shaft diesel engine: 16,000 bhp | 12 October 1938 | 9 April 1943 | Sold 26 January 1946 |