View source for HMS Attacker (D02)

{{Short description|1942 Attacker-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Attacker|USS Barnes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMSAttackerD02.jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Attacker'' (D02) at anchor in [[San Francisco Bay]], 13 November 1942
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1942}}
|Ship name= *''Steel Artisan''
* ''Barnes''
|Ship namesake= Barnes Sound, [[Florida]]
|Ship ordered = as type ([[Type C3-class ship|C3-S-A1]]) hull, [[Maritime Commission|MC]] hull 171{{sfn|Gerhardt}}
|Ship awarded= 30 September 1940
|Ship builder= [[Western Pipe and Steel Company]], [[San Francisco]], California
|Ship original cost= $7,992,456
|Ship yard number= 62
|Ship way number= 1
|Ship laid down= 7 April 1941
|Ship launched= 27 September 1941
|Ship commissioned= 30 September 1942
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned= 30 September 1942
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified= *BACV-7, 20 Aug 1942
* CVE, 15 July 1943
|Ship refit= Converted to AVG, 10 October 1941
|Ship identification= *[[Hull classification symbol#Aircraft carrier type|Hull symbol]]: AVG-7
* BACV-7
* CVE-7
|Ship captured=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=* Allocated to the [[Royal Navy]], 1 March 1942
* Transferred to the Royal Navy, 30 September 1942
|Ship homeport=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= title
|Ship country= United Kingdom
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name= ''Attacker''
|Ship namesake= One who assaults or assails an opponent
|Ship acquired= 30 September 1942
|Ship commissioned= 7 October 1942
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned= 29 December 1945
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification= [[Pennant number]]: D02
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship captured=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate= Returned to the [[US Navy]], 5 January 1946
|Ship homeport=
|Ship honours= *Atlantic 1943–1944
* Salerno 1943
* South France 1944
* Aegean 1944{{sfn|Fleet Air Arm Officers Association}}
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1946}}
|Ship name= ''Barnes''
|Ship acquired= 5 January 1946
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship struck=  26 Feb 1946
|Ship fate= Sold for commercial use, 28 October 1948, scrapped 1980
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=*{{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier}} (USA)
* {{sclass|Attacker|escort carrier}} (UK)
|Ship displacement=
* {{cvt|10200|LT|lk=on|-1}} [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|(standard)]]
* {{cvt|14400|LT|-1}} [[Displacement (ship)#Loaded displacement|(full load)]]

|Ship length=
* {{convert|465|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Waterline length|wl]])
* {{convert|496|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|oa]])
* {{convert|440|ft|abbr=on}} ([[Flight deck|fd]])

|Ship beam=
* {{cvt|69|ft|6|in}} wl
* {{cvt|82|ft}} (fd)
* {{cvt|111|ft|6|in}} (extreme width)

|Ship draught=
* {{cvt|23|ft|3|in}} (mean)
* {{cvt|26|ft}} (deep load)
|Ship power=
* 2 × [[Water-tube boiler#Babcock & Wilcox boiler|Foster-Wheeler]] {{cvt|285|psi|lk=on}} boilers
* {{cvt|8500|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=
* 1 × [[General Electric]] or [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]] [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]]
* 1 × [[Propeller|Screw]]
|Ship speed={{cvt|18|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{cvt|27300|nmi|lk=in}} at {{cvt|11|kn}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
* {{cvt|3100|LT|0|lk=in}} ([[fuel oil]])
* {{cvt|50000|usgal}} ([[Avgas]])
|Ship complement=646
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*2 × single [[5"/51 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|0}}/51 caliber gun]] (removed by RN)
* 2 × single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF {{cvt|4|in}} Mk V]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s (installed by RN)
* 4 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft warfare|antiaircraft]] (AA) guns
* 8 × twin [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon cannons]]
* 10 × single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft= 24
|Ship aircraft facilities=
* 1 × [[aircraft catapult|hydraulic catapult]]
* 2 × [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|elevators]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Attacker'' (D02)''' was an American-built [[escort carrier]] that served with the [[Royal Navy during the Second World War]].

Converted from a merchantman under construction, she was commissioned by the [[United States Navy]] on 30 September 1942, as '''USS ''Barnes'' (CVE-7)''', a {{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier|2}}; she was decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day under the [[Lend-Lease]] agreement.

''Attacker'' served throughout the war, first as a [[convoy]] escort in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]]. After further conversion by the Royal Navy in October 1943, into an assault carrier, the ship was active in the [[Mediterranean]], and later the [[Pacific War|war in the Pacific]]. In late August 1945, ''Attacker'' witnessed the Japanese surrender of [[Penang]], in [[British Malaya|Malaya]], as part of [[Operation Jurist]].

==Construction==
The merchantman ''Steel Artisan'' was laid down on 17 April 1941, under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract, MC hull 171, by [[Western Pipe and Steel Company]] of [[San Francisco]]. She was renamed ''Barnes'' (AVG-7) on 3 September 1941, and launched on 27 September 1941. ''Barnes'' was towed to the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] on 10 October 1941, for conversion to an escort carrier. On 1 March 1942, she was assigned to be transferred to the British under [[Lend-Lease]]. She was redesignated BACV-7 on 20 August 1942. ''Barnes'' was commissioned into the [[US Navy]] on 30 September 1942, and decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy on the same day. On 7 October 1942, she was commissioned into the Royal Navy as under the command of [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] Shirley-Rollison, RN.{{sfn|DANFS}}{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

==Design and description==
''Attacker'' was the lead ship in what became the Royal Navy's {{sclass|Attacker|escort carrier|0}} of 11 ships; one of 38 escort carriers built in the United States for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=344}}{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=79}} The Western Pipe & Steel shipyards built three other ships in the class.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=79}} Once completed she was supplied under the terms of Lend-Lease agreement to the Royal Navy. There was a ships complement of 646 men, who lived in crew accommodation that was significantly different from the arrangements that were normal for the Royal Navy at the time. The separate [[mess]]es no longer had to prepare their own food, as everything was cooked in the galley and served [[cafeteria]] style in a central dining area. They were also equipped with a modern laundry and a barber shop. The traditional [[hammock]]s were replaced by three-tier bunk-beds, 18 to a cabin, which were hinged and could be tied up to provide extra space when not in use.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|pp=74-75}}

''Attacker'' had an [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{cvt|496|ft}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{cvt|69|ft|6|in}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{cvt|24|ft}}. She displaced {{cvt|14400|LT}} at [[full load]]. Power was provided by two boilers feeding steam to a [[steam turbine|turbine]] driving one [[propeller|shaft]], giving {{cvt|8500|bhp|lk=on}}, which could propel the ship at {{cvt|18|kn}}.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|pp=80-81}}

She had the capacity for up to 24 aircraft which could be a mixture of [[anti-submarine]] and [[fighter aircraft]]; the British [[Hawker Sea Hurricane]] and [[Supermarine Seafire]] naval fighters, [[Fairey Swordfish]] torpedo bomber or the American-supplied [[Grumman F4F Wildcat#Royal Navy Martlets|Grumman Martlet]] and [[Vought F4U Corsair]] fighters or [[Grumman Avenger]] torpedo bomber could be carried.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}} The exact composition of the embarked squadrons depended upon the mission. Some squadrons were composite squadrons for convoy defence and would be equipped with both anti-submarine and fighter aircraft,{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=98}} while other squadrons working in a strike carrier role would only be equipped with fighter aircraft.{{sfn|Morison|2002|p=342}} Aircraft facilities were a small combined bridge–flight control on the [[starboard]] side and above the {{convert|450|x|120|ft|abbr=on}} flight deck,{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=57}} two aircraft lifts {{convert|42|x|34|ft|abbr=on}}, and nine [[Arresting gear|arrestor wires]]. Aircraft could be housed in the {{convert|260|x|62|ft|abbr=on}}  hangar below the flight deck.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}}

[[File:Twin 40mm bofors gun on escort carrier.jpg|thumb|left|A typical twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40&nbsp;mm Bofors]] [[anti-aircraft gun]] mounting on the ''Attacker''-class.]]
The ships armament concentrated on [[anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence and comprised two [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF {{cvt|4|in}} MK V dual purpose guns]] in single mounts, eight [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors guns]] in twin mounts and ten [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon cannons]] in single and eight in twin mounts.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=80}}

''Attacker'' was designed to accompany other ships forming the escort for convoys.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=155}} The anti-submarine aircraft employed were initially the Fairey Swordfish and later the Grumman Avenger, which could be armed with torpedoes, [[depth charge]]s, {{cvt|250|lb}} bombs or [[RP-3]] rocket projectiles.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=135}} As well as carrying out their own attacks on U-Boats, these aircraft identified their locations for the convoy's escorts to mount an attack.{{sfn|Cocker|2008|p=147}} Typically anti-submarine patrols would be flown between dawn and dusk. One aircraft would fly about {{cvt|10|mi}} ahead of the convoy, while another patrolled astern. Patrols would last between two and three hours, using both radar and visual observation in their search for U-Boats.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=79}}
''Attacker'' also had a secondary role, providing oil and provisions for her accompanying destroyers. This could be a lengthy process and was done on the move. It took 40 minutes from firing a line across to the destroyer to start pumping oil, while it took another two hours to pump 98 tons of oil and a further 35 minutes to disconnect the hose pipe and secure the equipment.{{sfn|Poolman|1972|p=102-103}}

==Service history==
On 12 November 1942, ''Attacker'' started her flying and [[sea trial]]s off San Francisco. She had embarked four Swordfish I torpedo bombers of [[838 Naval Air Squadron|838 squadron]] from [[Naval Air Station Alameda]].{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}} After completion of her trials, and being qualified for duty, she set sail for [[Balboa, Panama|Balboa]], on 12 December, with 838 squadron. She passed through the [[Panama Canal]], and arrived at [[Cristóbal, Colón|Cristobal]], on 22 December. She later sailed for [[Quonset Point Air National Guard Station|NAS Quonset Point]], where she disembarked 838 squadron, 1 January 1943. ''Attacker'' was in [[Chesapeake Bay]], during January, for a period of Deck Landing Training (DLT) with Martlets from [[882 Naval Air Squadron|882 squadron]], [[896 Naval Air Squadron|896 squadron]], and [[898 Naval Air Squadron|898 squadron]] and Swordfish from 838 and [[840 Naval Air Squadron|840 squadron]]s.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

On 2 March 1943, ''Attacker'' set sail for Curacao, with 838 squadron and six Swordfish from 840 squadron, for escort duty with [[Convoy CU 1]]. ''Attacker''{{'}}s first active service in the [[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic]] was to provided anti submarine cover during her crossing from the United States to Great Britain. She set sail from [[Curacao]], on 20 March 1943, arriving in [[River Clyde|Clyde]], on 1 April 1943, and [[Liverpool]] the following day.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}{{sfn|Hague}} On 4 April 1943, in Liverpool, she started two months of modification during which radar was fitted and US {{convert|5|in|adj=on}} guns were changed for British ones. On 2 August, she sailed, along with her [[sister ships]] {{HMS|Battler|D18|2}}, {{HMS|Hunter|D80|2}}, and {{HMS|Stalker|D91|2}} for [[Gibraltar]], with aircraft from [[886 Naval Air Squadron|886]] (Seafire fighters and Swordfish torpedo bombers) and [[879 Naval Air Squadron|879]] (Seafires) squadrons on board.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

===Mediterranean===
====Operation Avalanche====
''Attacker'' transferred to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean theatre]] reaching [[Malta]], 7 September 1943 as part of "Task Force 88", consisting of the escort carriers ''Battler'', ''Hunter'', ''Stalker'', the aircraft repair ship {{HMS|Unicorn|I72|2}}, the cruisers {{HMS|Euryalus|42|2}}, {{HMS|Scylla|98|2}}, {{HMS|Charybdis|88|2}}, the destroyers {{HMS|Cleveland|L46|2}} {{HMS|Holcombe||2}}, {{HMS|Atherstone|L05|2}}, {{HMS|Liddesdale|L100|2}}, {{HMS|Farndale||2}}, {{HMS|Calpe|L71|2}}, and the [[Polish Navy|Polish]] destroyers {{ORP|Ślązak|L26|2}} and {{ORP|Krakowiak|L115|2}} to providing cover for the Allied amphibious landings on mainland Italy, near [[Salerno]], in [[Operation Avalanche]].{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}} From 9 to 12 September, the five carriers launched a total of 713 [[sorties]], with ''Attacker'' sending out 132. Seventy-five patrol sorties were carried out by [[879 Naval Air Squadron]] (NAS) while 57 were flown by [[886 Naval Air Squadron|886 NAS]], with no aircraft lost to enemy action.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}} ''Attacker'' joined [[Convoy MK 24]], along with ''Hunter'' and ''Stalker'', to escort it from Gibraltar to the Clyde, from 17 September to 6 October 1943. She then sailed for [[Rosyth Naval Dockyard]], on 7 October, for conversion to an assault carrier, arriving 10 October.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

====Conversion====
[[Image:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A17507.jpg|thumb|left|''Attacker'' at anchor in [[Greenock]], Scotland]]
With her upgrades finished in December 1943, ''Attacker'' again embarked Seafires of 879 and 886 squadrons on 29 December, for training from January to February 1944, in her new role of providing air support for major military landings until shore based air strips became operational. Operation Avalanche had proven a need for this strategy. She returned to Liverpool, on 9 February, for further repairs.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

''Attacker'', along with ''Hunter'' and ''Stalker'', were ordered to [[Scapa Flow]], arriving on 5 May 1944, for participation in [[Operation Hoops]] scheduled for 8 May. However, before the operation was launched changes were made and the escort carriers {{HMS|Emperor|D98|2}}, {{HMS|Searcher|D40|2}}, and {{HMS|Striker|D12|2}} were instead allocated and the three carriers set sail for [[Belfast]], on 7 May, and arrived the next day.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

On 14 May, the three ships set out for the Mediterranean as additional escorts for the [[Convoy KMS 51]], which had departed Liverpool, the previous day. ''Attacker'' detached from the convoy on 19 May, and put into Gibraltar, 24 May. On 2 June, she moved from her berth on the [[North Mole, Gibraltar Harbour|North Mole]] to the inside of the [[Detached Mole, Gibraltar Harbour|Detached Mole]], where on the night of 4 June, while silhouetted behind the mole, an enemy submarine launched a torpedo at her. The torpedo detonated on the outside of the mole which caused to serious damage to ''Attacker''. On June 6, she and ''Hunter'' sailed for [[Mers El Kébir]], providing air cover for [[Convoy KMS 52]].{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

====Operation Dragoon====
[[File:A view from HMS PURSUER of other assault carriers in the naval task force which took part in the landings in the south of France, 7 August 1944. A25184.jpg|thumb|View of ''Attacker'', and other assault carriers, from ''Pursuer'' 7 August 1944, before [[Operation Dragoon]]]]
During June 1944, ''Attacker'' provided air cover for several convoys travelling in the Western Mediterranean. On 23 July, she sailed for Malta, in company with {{HMS|Khedive|D62|2}}, {{HMS|Pursuer|D73|2}}, ''Searcher'' and ''Emperor'', anchoring in [[Malta Dockyard|Dockyard Creek]] on 25 July, to prepare for [[Operation Dragoon]].{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

''Attacker'' joined Carrier Force [[Task Force 88 (United States Navy)|TF88.1]] for Operation Dragoon. The force exercised off Malta, between 2 and 12 August, with the invasion starting in the early hours of 15 August. On 19 August, TF88.1 withdrew to [[La Maddalena|Maddalena]], Sardinia, for refueling and rearming. They took up position south of [[Marseille]], on 21 August, until 23 August, when they returned to Maddalena, again to refuel and rearm. TF88.1 was released on 28 August. ''Attacker'' had completed 106 ground strike, bombardment spotting for {{HMS|Aurora|12|2}}, tactical reconnaissance missions and 120 bombing sorties. She left Maddalena, for [[Alexandria]], on 29 August.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

====Operations Outing I, Outing II, Manna====
''Attacker'' set sail on 14 September 1944, to participate in [[Operation Outing I]], an operation designed to delay German troop movements in the [[Dodecanese Islands]]. She arrived 15 September, and relieved ''Hunter''. She returned to Alexandria, on 20 September, to resupply, and returned to the Dodecanese Islands, on 27 September, for [[Operation Outing II]]. She again returned to Alexandria, 5 October, for further refuel and rearm. ''Hunter'' was again relieved by ''Attacker'' in the eastern [[Aegean Sea]], on 11 October, for [[Operation Manna]]. Returning 30 October, to Alexandria.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

''Attacker'', along with ''Hunter'' and ''Stalker'', set sail for the United Kingdom, on 31 October 1944, having been picked for service with the [[East Indies Fleet]]. After a brief stopover at Malta, on 3 November, the three carriers reached [[Plymouth]], 10 November, for a short period of defect rectifications at the [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Naval Dockyard]] and the opportunity for their crews to go on home leave. On 29 November, the three set out for the Mediterranean, to undergo refits in transit to the Pacific. They arrived in Gibraltar, on 3 December, where ''Stalker'' was refit with ''Hunter'' proceeding to Malta, and ''Attacker'' proceeding to [[Taranto]], Italy, their refits.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

After completing refit trials ''Attacker'' set sail on 1 April 1945, for Alexandria. She embarked 879 squadron on 14 April, then proceeded through the [[Suez Canal]], to [[Aden]], and then [[Ceylon]], arriving 29 April.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

===Pacific War===
''Attacker'' was assigned to 21 ACS, but due to defects discovered during her transit to the Pacific Theater, she was deemed unfit for operation. During May, and part of June, ''Attacker'' and ''Hunter'' were assigned to aircraft transport duties between [[India]] and [[South Africa]] to Ceylon.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

====Operation Carson====
After a couple of training periods during June and July with 879 NAS she was allocated to [[Task Force 61]] to participate in [[Operation Carson]], attacks on Japanese shipping and airfields in the [[Penang]] and [[Medan]] areas of [[Sumatra]]. She again embarked 879 NAS on 9 August, and sailed from [[Trincomalee]], on 10 August 1945, along with the escort carriers {{HMS|Ameer|D01|2}}, ''Emperor'', {{HMS|Empress|D42|2}}, ''Khedive'', and {{HMS|Shah|D21|2}} with strikes planned to be carried out on 14 and 15 August. Task Force 61 was order to hold west of 90 degrees east latitude on 11 August, to wait for further orders. They were ordered to return to Trincomalee, arriving 15 August, where they received the Station General Message, "SUSPEND OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPANESE FORCES." ''Attacker'' was in harbour at Trincomalee, to celebrate [[V-J Day]] while waiting on new orders. She had already been allocated to [[Operation Zipper]], the planned invasion of [[Singapore]], which was scheduled for September 1945. With the end of hostilities, they were a reoccupying force instead of an invading force.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

====Operations Jurist and Tiderace====
In late August 1945, ''Attacker'' witnessed the Japanese surrender of Penang, in [[British Malaya|Malaya]], as part of [[Operation Jurist]].{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

In September 1945, ''Attacker'' was present at Singapore, as part of [[Operation Tiderace]], sailing immediately afterwards for Clyde, to de-store and enter reserve.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}

==Naval Air Squadrons==
{|class="wikitable"
|+[[Fleet Air Arm]] Squadrons stationed on ''Attacker''{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}
! NAS !! Dates !! Aircraft type
|-
| [[838 Naval Air Squadron|838]] || December 1942 – April 1943|| [[Fairey Swordfish|Fairey Swordfish Mks.I]]
|-
| [[840 Naval Air Squadron|840]] || March–April 1943 || Fairey Swordfish Mk.II
|-
| [[886 Naval Air Squadron|886]] || June–October 1943 || [[Supermarine Seafire|Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc]]/Fairey Swordfish Mks.I
|-
| [[879 Naval Air Squadron|879]] || July 1943 – November 1945 || Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc
|-
| 886 || December 1943 – February 1944 || Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc
|-
| [[809 Naval Air Squadron|809]] || November–December 1944 || Supermarine Seafire LF.IIc
|}

==Honours==
''Attacker'' was awarded Royal Navy honours for her contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic (1943–44), for support to the Salerno landings (1943), and to the South France and Aegean campaigns in 1944.{{sfn|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}} The vessel left British waters in December 1945, being formally received back into [[United States]]' custody at the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]], Norfolk, Virginia, on 5 January 1946, and struck from naval service on 26 February 1946.{{sfn|DANFS}}

==Merchant service==
{{main|Fairsky|Ten Pound Poms|}}
In February 1947, the ship was sold into merchant service to [[National Bulk Carriers]] of New York, who in preparation for conversion to a cargo ship, arranged for the removal of the vessel's flight deck and other wartime fittings. The work eventually stopped and the vessel was offered for re-sale. In 1950, it was bought by the [[Vlasov Group]] and placed under the nominal ownership of Vlasov's American subsidiary, [[Navcot Corporation]].  Renamed ''Castel Forte'', the ship remained idle whilst suitable employment could be found.{{sfn|Plowman|2006|p=112}}

In 1957, Vlasov secured a charter from the [[Australia]]n government for ''Castel Forte'' to carry [[Ten Pound Poms|British migrants]] to [[Australia]]. During the conversion to a passenger liner the ship was renamed ''Fairsky'' and was operated by Vlasov's Italian managed company, [[Sitmar Line]].{{sfn|Plowman|2006|p=112}} On completion of the refurbishment in June 1958, the "new-look" vessel began a long career as a migrant-carrying ship,  which was to last until 1974, with the final migrant voyage from [[Southampton]] to [[Auckland]]. On 23 June 1977, while operating as a cruise ship, ''Fairsky'' hit a submerged wreck and was beached to prevent sinking. The damage was temporarily patched and the ship refloated six days later. When the full extent of the damage became known, Sitmar decided against permanent repairs and they offered the vessel for sale.{{sfn|Plowman|2006|p=113}}

Having been reprieved from going straight to the breakers, in 1978, work began to convert the vessel to a static floating hotel and casino named ''Philippine Tourist''.  However, the ship was badly damaged by fire on 3 November 1979, and subsequently scrapped in [[Hong Kong]], the hulk having arrived there under tow on 24 May 1980.{{sfn|Plowman|2006|p=113}}

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==Bibliography==
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  }}
* {{cite web
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  |work=Royal Navy Research Archive
  |access-date= 9 December 2020
  |ref= {{sfnRef|Royal Navy Research Archive|2020}}
  }}
* {{cite DANFS
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  |access-date= 10 December 2020
  |ref= {{sfnRef|DANFS}}
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite book
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  }}
* {{cite book
  |last=Morison
  |first=Samuel
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  }}
* {{cite book
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  }}
* {{cite book
  |last=Poolman
  |first=Kenneth
  |year=1972
  |title=Escort Carrier 1941–1945
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  }}
* {{cite web
  |first= Arnold
  |last= Hague
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  |title= Convoy CU 1
  |access-date= 10 December 2020
  }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|IMO 5111622}}

{{Bogue class escort carrier}}
{{Type C3-S-A1 ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Attacker (D02)}}
[[Category:Bogue-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:Attacker-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Type C3-S-A1 ships of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in San Francisco]]
[[Category:1941 ships]]