"FIRST TASTE OF SALT FOR NEW SHIP—Chester, Pa.—The Rio Hudson, $5,000,000 17,500-ton motor ship built for the American Republics Line, gets its first taste of salt water as it slides down the ways after christening ceremonies. The ship will operate in the South American trade after her completion next spring."

"CREDIT LINE (ACME) 11/27/40 (JC)
NY CHI NJ SA DCT CL"

The future HMS Avenger (D14) seen as SS Rio Hudson at SunShip Chester, PA, in 1941. Photos from the LIFE magazine collection, photographer Dmitri Kessel (for educational and non-commercial use only).

The future USS Long Island (CVE-1) seen as SS Mormacmail (the nearest vessel), and the future HMS Avenger (D14, BAVG-2) in the distance, at SunShip Chester, PA, in 1941. Photos from the LIFE magazine collection, photographer Dmitri Kessel (for educational and non-commercial use only).

USS Bailey (DD-492), Bethlehem Steel Co., Inc., Shipbuilding Div., Staten Island Yard, Hull 8024, Bow view, 6 January 1942.

BAVG-2, the future HMS Avenger, under conversion, can be seen in the background.

HMS Avenger underway before she was handed over to the Royal Navy[, 1942]. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Photo and text from British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and their Aircraft, by Norman Friedman.

HMS Avenger (ex-mercantile Rio Hudson) underway in rough seas, date and location unknown. Note the unusual camouflage scheme on her flight deck. Six Sea Hurricane IIC fighters are lined-up on the centre line. Imperial War Museum photo #FL1268, from Naval Camouflage 1914–1945, A Complete Visual Reference, by David Williams.

Undated pic of RN ratings taking a meal aboard HMS Avenger. The photo clearly shows the cafeteria messing, marking the change from the old practice of eating and sleeping in the same quarters. Photo Imperial War Museum No: A10960.

Photo and text from The Fleet Air Arm Handbook, by David Wragg.

A Fleet Air Arm Hawker Hurricane Mk.IB of No.802 Squadron takes off from the flight deck of the escort carrier HMS Avenger (D14), location unknown. Imperial War Museum photo # A10978.

Photo from The Fleet Air Arm Handbook, by David Wragg.

Admiral Sir John Tovey, Commander-in-Chief of the British Home Fleet, visits the escort carrier HMS Avenger (D14) and inspects the ship's company, date and location unknown. Imperial War Museum photo # A10963.

Photo from The Fleet Air Arm Handbook, by David Wragg.

A picture taken inside the hangar of the Royal Navy escort carrier HMS Avenger (D14), showing the lift bringing down a Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk. IB of No. 802 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm from the deck. Several mechanics are standing on the lift and in the hangar to move the aircraft into position, circa 1942. Photo taken by Lt. C.H. Parnall, Royal Navy, official photographer. Photo id. A10982, from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.

The "Bats" officer signaling to a Hawker Sea Hurricane (not in view) aboard HMS Avenger (D14), one of the escort carriers that helped to break the back of the U-Boat menace.

Photo taken by Lt. C.H. Parnall, Royal Navy, official photographer. Photo id. A 10981, from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (IWM). IWM Non Commercial License.

Port broadside view of HMS Avenger (D14), as seen from USS New York (BB-34) in early 1942. The two ships were underway in Atlantic Convoy duty.

LIFE magazine Archives, Frank Scherschel photographer, shared by Robert DeForest.

HMS Avenger (D14) conducting flight operations, as seen from USS New York (BB-34) while on Atlantic convoy escort duty in early 1942.

LIFE magazine Archives, Frank Scherschel photographer, shared by Robert DeForest.

HMS Avenger (D14) as seen from USS New York (BB-34) while on Atlantic convoy escort duty in early 1942. Bow of troopship RMS Aquitania can be seen on the right-hand side of the photo.

LIFE magazine Archives, Frank Scherschel photographer, shared by Robert DeForest.

USS Cherokee (AT-66) underway off Norfolk Navy Yard, 13 March 1942. The escort carrier in the left background is probably HMS Avenger (BAVG-2), which was delivered without an island.

US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo # 19-N-29463, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.

The Royal Navy escort carriers HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) underway in line astern from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38), September 1942. Two Supermarine Seafires of 884 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, can be seen at the far end of the flight deck of Victorious.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Priest, L.C. (Lt), Photo © IWM (# A 15957).

Billowing smoke marks the end of the ammunition ship SS Mary Luckenbach, seen from the deck of the escort carrier HMS Avenger (D14), during Convoy PQ-18 to Russia, 13 September 1942. The ship was attacked by several German aircraft, and was hit by an aerial torpedo. The impact of the torpedo struck the ship's cargo of 1,000 tons of TNT. The explosion was so violent the ship was basically vaporized along with the entire crew. The last known location of the ship was 75 degrees north, 10 degrees east. S.W. Roskill, British Newsreel Pictures. Photo id. 12017 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.