The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

Ameer Class, British Escort Carriers

Photograph of HMS Ameer

Imperial War Museum. Via Wikipedia Commons

Tonnage	11,400 tons standard displacement
Dimensions	494'9" by 69'6" by 23' 150.80m by 21.18m by 7.01m
Maximum speed	18 knots
Complement	646
Aircraft	439'11" (134.09m) flight deck 1 catapult 2 elevators 20 aircraft
Armament	2 5"/38 dual-purpose guns 8x2 40mm Bofors AA guns 10 to 28 20mm Oerlikon AA guns
Machinery	1-shaft General Electric geared turbine (8500 shp) 2 Foster Wheeler boilers
Bunkerage	3100 tons fuel oil 35,000 gallons (132,000 liters) aviation gasoline
Sensors	SK air search radar SG surface search radar

The Ameers were very similar to the Attackers. However, they were laid down as escort carriers rather than being converted from merchant hulls, were armed with 5"/38 dual-purpose guns, and had a more powerful catapult capable of launching TBF Avengers. In combat, they proved remarkably resistant to underwater damage.

As indicated, the number of 20mm antiaircraft guns shipped varied considerably from unit to unit. In many cases some 20mm guns were replaced with up to four single 40mm guns. Other details varied depending on whether the ships were to be used for escort, as strike/CAP carriers, or as aircraft ferries. We indicate which was the case in the table below.

Units in the Pacific

Begum	Arrived 1944-3	ASW
Shaw	Arrived 1944-3	ASW
Rajah	Arrived 1944-3	Aircraft transport
Atheling	Arrived 1944-5	ASW
Ameer	Arrived 1944-7	Strike/CAP
Trouncer	Arrived 1944	Aircraft transport
Emperor	Arrived 1945-1	Strike/CAP
Empress	Arrived 1945-1?	Strike/CAP
Arbiter	Arrived 1945-1	Aircraft transport
Khedive	Arrived 1945-4-8	Strike/CAP
Speaker	Arrived 1945-4	Strike/CAP
Slinger	Arrived 1945-5	Aircraft transport
Trumpeter	Arrived 1945-5	ASW
Ruler	Arrived 1945-5	Strike/CAP
Patroller	Arrived 1945	Aircraft transport
Ranee	Arrived 1945	Aircraft transport
Reaper	Arrived 1945	Aircraft transport

References

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