NAVYPEDIA

Support the project with paypal


HOME
FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS
ARCHER escort aircraft carrier (1, 1939 / 1941)


Photo



Archer 1943

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Archer (ex-BAVG1, ex-Mormacland) D78 184 Sun SB, Chester, USA // Newport News, USA 1.8.1939 14.12.1939 4.1940 // 17.11.1941 sold 3.1945


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

10220 (including liquid ballast)

Displacement full, t

12860

Length, m

150.0 wl

Breadth, m

21.2 wl 23.7 fd

Draught, m

6.65 deep load

No of shafts

1

Machinery

2 Busch-Sulzer diesels

Power, h. p.

8500

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

diesel oil 1362

Endurance, nm(kts)15000(15)
Armament

3 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk 1.2, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, 16 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Buffalo, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers)

Electronic equipmenttype 79B, type 271 radars
Complement555


Air group


Year Fighters torpedo-bombers
1.1942 11 Martlet ---
3.1942 12 Martlet 3 Swordfish
4.1942 3 Martlet 3 Swordfish
2.1943 6 Martlet 6 Swordfish
5.1943 3 Martlet 9 Swordfish
7.1943 4 Wildcat 8 Swordfish


Standard scale images


<i>Archer </i>1941
Archer 1941


Graphics


<i>Archer </i>1943
Archer 1943


Aircraft facilities

 (fd - 3,164m², ha - ~ 1,275m² / 7,382m³): Flight deck: 133.5 x 23.7m, hangar: 57.9x14.3x5.79m. There was 1 lift (11.6x10.4m, 5.4t) and 1 catapult H-II (3.2t plane was launched at 113 km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 398,000l, but immediately after commissioning stowage was decreased to 164,000l.

Project history

First British escort aircraft carrier ordered in the USA by lend-lease. Works were commenced in April-May, 1941. Archer was rebuilt from already completed vessel in 5-11/1941. Structurally she was differed from three remaining ships built from incomplete vessels. Archer was flush-decked and had no island.

Carrier had hull of standard type СЗ cargo vessel. The stability was ensured with a concrete ballast (1800t). Besides, holding of 1000t of a water-ballast was recommended. Ship had no armour or underwater protection. Machinery included two diesels, working on one shaft through a reduction gear. Diesel fuel stowage consisted from 1362 - 1600t of ship stock and 1100 - 1700t in additional (cargo) tanks, used mainly for a refuelling of escorts at sea.

Modernizations 8.

1942: - 3 x 1 - 102/50, type 79, 271 radars; + 3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, type 273, type 291 radars

3/1943: - 1 x 1 - 20/70, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2

10/1943: - 3 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk 1.2

Naval service

No significant events.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.