HMS Ruler (D72). Place unknown; circa 1943-1944.

[A]n unidentified RN escort carrier (top of image) tied up pierside, and the British armoured fleet carrier HMS Indomitable (92) at Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, VA., on 7 April 1944. Indomitable had been torpedoed during a night torpedo attack at Salerno on 11 July 1943. She was in dockyard hands for repairs and refitting from 31 August 1943 to 15 April 1944. Photo source unknown.

The CVE is probably HMS Ruler (D72), ex-St. Joseph (CVE-50), and the photo was probably taken, in fact, on April 8th or shortly afterward. Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers, writes: "This is HMS Ruler; she is listed as arriving at Norfolk on April 8th though. I can find no other RN CVEs in the area at the right time. Ruler was on her maiden voyage Vancouver to Liverpool via Norfolk and New York. In Norfolk to embark a ferry load."

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

British escort aircraft carrier HMS Ruler (D72), ex-U.S. St. Joseph (CVE-50) docked with her flight deck packed with snow-covered Grumman Hellcat fighters, on 21 January 1945, on the Clyde. Photo by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museum photo, No: A 28796.

HMS Ruler (A731), ex-St. Joseph (CVE-50), Sydney harbour, 1945.

Flight deck handling parties on HMS Ruler (R311) gather at the forward edge of the flight deck to look down on an Avenger which has crashed onto the forecastle during take-off. On this occasion, the ship's low maximum speed and the light wind conditions proved insufficient to give an adequate wind over the deck for her inexperienced pilot. Author's collection.

(Note all pennant numbers are those allocated to British and Commonwealth ships operating alongside the US Navy.)

Image and text from The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force, by David Hobbs (Seaforth Publishing).

HMS Ruler operating the Hellcats of 885 squadron in the Pacific with the British Pacific Fleet, 1945. She appears to be refuelling another ship astern.

HMS Ruler (A731) underway off the coast of Japan on 18 July 1945, as seen from HMAS Nepal (G25).

Source: Australian War Memorial by Goodchild, J.C. Captain, Photo No. 121149.

HMS Ruler (A731) underway off the coast of Japan on 18 July 1945. The carrier is preparing to refuel destroyer HMAS Nepal (G25) which is approaching from her starboard quarter.

Source: Australian War Memorial by Goodchild, J.C. Captain, Photo No. 121242.

HMS Ruler (A731) entering the basin in the Pyrmont area of Sydney, NSW, Australia on 27 September 1945. Tugs are guiding and maneuvering her to a berth. The carrier's decks are lined with sailors and ex-prisoners of war, some who haven't seen home in four years.

Source: Australian War Memorial Photo No. 122014.

Close-up photo of HMS Ruler (A731) being moored in the Pyrmont area of Sydney, NSW, Australia on 27 September 1945. The carrier's decks are lined with sailors and ex-prisoners of war, some who haven't seen home in four years.

Source: Australian War Memorial Photo No. 122015.

Close-up photo of HMS Ruler (A731) being moored in the Pyrmont area of Sydney, NSW, Australia on 27 September 1945, with decks lined with sailors and ex-prisoners of war.

Source: Australian War Memorial Photo No. 122017.

USS Missouri (BB-63) tied up to the pier, 9–12 May 1946 at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.

An escort aircraft carrier is off to Missouri's starboard side. What is left of her hull number identifies her as one of the British CVEs used as aircraft transports in the Pacific, late in WW2. Only HMS Ruler carried an A pennant number in the 700 series. Ruler was returned to USN custody at Norfolk on 29 January 1946 and is awaiting disposal in this shot. (Thanks to Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers, for his help.)

What looks like an attack transport is off Missouri's stern.