HMS Pursuer (D73)

HMS Pursuer in March 1944. HMS Furious can be seen in the background
History
United States
NameUSS St. George
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down31 July 1941
Launched18 July 1942
FateTransferred to Royal Navy
United Kingdom
NameHMS Pursuer
Commissioned14 June 1943
Decommissioned12 February 1946
Stricken28 March 1946
FateScrapped in 1946
General characteristics
Class and typeAttacker-class escort carrier
Displacement14,400 tons
Length491 ft 6 in (149.81 m)
Beam105 ft (32 m)
Draught26 ft (7.9 m)
PropulsionSteam turbines, one shaft, 8,500 shp (6,300 kW)
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement646 officers and ratings
Armament
Aircraft carried20
Service record
Part of: Home Fleet
Operations:

USS St. George (CVE-17) (originally AVG-17 then ACV-17) was laid down on 31 July 1941 as a C3-S-A2 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Hull 296 of Pascagoula, Mississippi, under Maritime Commission contract as the (second) SS Mormacland for Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., (MC Hull 163). She was renamed St. George (AVG-17) by the United States Navy on 7 January 1942; and assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease as HMS Pursuer on 24 February 1942. The vessel was launched on 18 July 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ann S. Bartman. The escort carrier was reclassified ACV-17 on 20 August 1942, acquired by the US Navy and simultaneously transferred to Britain on 14 June 1943. She was reclassified CVE-17 on 15 July 1943.