Attacker (US Bogue) Class Escort Carrier | |||||
Ordered | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Returned to US | Stricken |
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- | 3 Nov 1941 | 7 Mar 1942 | 31 Jan 1943 | 29 Nov 1945 | 21 Jan 1946 |
Builder: Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Seattle-Tacoma, Wash. |
Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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Ship's Badge |
97k | BACV-6 was transferred to the United Kingdom on 31 January 1943, under the provisions of the Lend-Lease agreement, and served as HMS Tracker. A "tracker" is a person who follows the tracks or traces of someone or something. The design of the ship's badge was suggested to the ship's officers by her builders, Willamette Iron & Steel Corp., Portland, OR. It possibly depicts a warrior of the Multnomah tribe, Chinookan people, the Native Americans indigenous to the Portland area. (Image courtesy of Tommy Trampp.) |
NavSource | |
HMS Tracker (D24) |
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NS030100634t |
6.89M | Profiles and decks of the escort carrier HMS Tracker from a booklet of general plans produced by the ship's builder, The Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, CA. The title sheet, besides the internal profile, has an extensive listing of the ship's dimensions, together with a list of fire hose connections and the ship's boats (two 26ft motor whalers and two 30ft motor launches). Although the ship is US-built and equipped with US fittings and gun mountings, the radar outfit is British. This includes the radar lantern for Type 272 surface warning on the island and Type 79M (a single aerial version of Type 79, later redesignated Type 79B) air warning radar fitted to the mast head. The gun armament consists of a single 4in/50 mounting on each side of the main deck aft, four twin 40mm Bofors, two at the after end of the main deck and one on each side of the flight deck forward, and ten 20mm Oerlikons, two on the forecastle and the remainder around the periphery of the flight deck. Note that the two aircraft lifts are the same size at 42ft x 34ft but are orientated in different directions. Other flight deck features include the expansion joints (shown as two dark lines bridging the deck) and a single aircraft catapult faintly visible on the port side, forward. The projections extending outboard on each side amidships are the machinery uptakes. Images and text are taken from British Warships of The Second World War detailed in the original builder's plans. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100605t |
238k | Three views of soon-to-be HMS Tracker during trials in the Columbia river conducted by her builders, Willamette Iron & Steel Corporation, Portland, Oregon, before being accepted by the Admiralty on January 31, 1943. Tracker was the first of 10 RN CVE's to be completed at Portland — five each at Willamette Iron & Steel Corporation, and Commercial Iron Works. These were (in order of completion): Tracker (WI&SC), Searcher (CIW), Ravager (CIW), Trumpeter (CIW), Slinger (WI&SC), Premier (WI&SC), Speaker (WI&SC), Arbiter (CIW), Rajah (WI&SC), and Trouncer (CIW). |
Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers | |
NS030100606t |
284k | |||
NS030100607t |
29k | |||
NS030100611t |
678k | HMS Tracker probably photographed off Orchard Point, Washington, 8 March 1943. Photograph taken by Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Note the ship's British-style pattern camouflage and the British radar antenna in the middle of her island. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 97123). Note: This photograph's original World War II-era caption identifies the ship seen as USS Barnes (ACV-20), which is incorrect. A number of visible details prove that the ship is definitely British. (The mistake was noticed in the first place by NavSource.) |
Naval History & Heritage Command, via Robert Hurst and Bob Canchola |
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NS030100602t |
169k | From All Hands magazine, May 1943 issue. |
Joe Radigan | |
NS030100604t |
43k | HMS Tracker (D24). | Haze Gray & Underway | |
NS030100616t |
62k | Undated photo of a Fairey Swordfish, its arrester hook trailing, [as it comes to land] on board the escort carrier HMS Tracker. The batsman is giving the "steady" signal; in seconds, this will be changed to "cut," indicating to the pilot that he should switch off his engine, whereupon the pilot will drop the last few feet under forward momentum (and gravity) only. A second aircraft is following, its pilot hoping fervently that his predecessor will have an incident-free touch-down. [L]ocation unknown. Photo Imperial War Museum. Photo and text from Swordfish: From The Cockpit, by Donald Payne. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100608t |
143k | HMS Tracker underway whilst escorting a convoy, with Avenger torpedo-bombers on the deck, aft. Date and location unknown. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100612t |
75k | A gun crew cleaning one of the twin 40mm Bofors mounts aboard HMS Tracker after firing whilst she was on patrol in the North Atlantic (IWM). Photo was taken from "U-Boats vs Destroyer Escorts," by Gordon Williamson. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100623t |
113k | Undated wartime pic of crewmen on the aft flight deck of HMS Tracker watch as the Black Swan-class AA sloop HMS Wren (U28) approaches from astern with rescued airmen onboard. RN photo. Photo and text from Walker, RN: Story of Captain Frederick John Walker, by Terence Robertson. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100628t |
200k | Undated wartime pic showing mountainous waves surging over the flight deck of HMS Tracker (D24) while on North Atlantic convoy duty. RN photo. Photo and text from Walker, RN: Story of Captain Frederick John Walker, by Terence Robertson. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100613t |
118k | Official photo of HMS Tracker (D24). Robert Collinson was the NAAFI canteen manager (U.S. equivalent is the PX, Post Exchange). |
Peter S. Collinson, son of Robert Collinson. Via Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers |
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NS030100627t |
67k | Undated photo of HMS Tracker (D24) stationary in coastal waters. Source: Imperial War Museums, American Ministry of Defense, Foxhill Collection of Ships Photographs, Photo No. © IWM(FL 22590). |
Mike Green | |
NS030100633t |
119k | HMS Tracker (D24), location and date unknown. Note she is wearing her second camouflage scheme. (Thanks to Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers.) Photo from The French Navy, Volume 1, by Henri Le Masson. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100629t |
165k | A Swordfish Mk II of 816 Squadron is being marshalled by flight deck handlers on board the escort carrier HMS Tracker. Photo Ad Hoc Collection. Photo and text from Swordfish: From The Cockpit, by Donald Payne. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100601t |
1.00M | Good overhead showing the location and look of the anti-aircraft gun mounts. Swordfish on deck belong to 816 Squadron. 1943. |
Jaume Cifré Sánchez | |
NS030100610t |
78k | HMS Tracker underway circa 1943 with Seafire and Swordfish aircraft of 816 Sqd, FAA on deck, location unknown. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100609t |
79k | Starboard quarter view of HMS Tracker underway circa August 1943, location unknown. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100641t |
41k | A gun crew firing the twin 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns on HMS Tracker (D24) (September–October 1943?). Two crewmembers are seated operating the elevation and training handles, two crewmembers are loading the rounds into the chute, one crew-member is nearby receiving orders over the radio. Photo Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19749 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (IWM). This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100635t |
35k | A Fairey Swordfish Mk.II aircraft of No.816 Squadron Fleet Air Arm ready for take-off from the flight deck of HMS Tracker (D24) for an anti-submarine sweep in the North Atlantic [September–December 1943]. Three more of the aircraft can be seen in the background. Photographer Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19714 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (IWM). This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100615t |
179k | A Fairey Swordfish Mk II aircraft of No. 816 Naval Air Squadron carrying rocket-projectiles underwing, about to take-off from the flight deck of HMS Tracker (D24) for an anti-submarine sweep in the North Atlantic, September–October 1943. Photo taken by Lt. D.C. Oulds, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo A19715 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100636t |
46k | The undercarriage of this Fairey Swordfish Mk.II of No. 816 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm collapsed after the pilot landed on too heavily owing to the deck of HMS Tracker (D24) pitching violently whilst she was sailing in the North Atlantic [September–December 1943]. Note the crowd of men preparing to pull the aircraft clear. Photographer Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19723 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (IWM). This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100639t |
34k | A Fairey Swordfish Mk.II aircraft of No 816 Squadron Fleet Air Arm taking off from the flight deck of HMS Tracker (D24) for an anti-submarine sweep in the North Atlantic. Photo Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19712 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100640t |
43k | A batman uses signal bats to guide the landing of a rocket-firing Fairey Swordfish Mk.II of No 816 Squadron Fleet Air Arm on board HMS Tracker (D24) in the North Atlantic. Note the rocket projectiles under the wings. Photo Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19718 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100642t |
46k | A Fairey Swordfish Mk.II aircraft of No.816 Squadron recovering aboard HMS Tracker (D24) after an anti-submarine sweep in the North Atlantic. Photo Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19716 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100631t |
76k | A Fairey Swordfish being readied for anti-submarine patrol on HMS Tracker in the North Atlantic, September–October 1943. Photo taken by Lt. D.C. Oulds, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo ©A19703 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. |
Mike Green | |
NS030100643t |
155k | An officers' cabin aboard HMS Tracker (D24) whilst she was in the North Atlantic. Two men are lying in their bunks whilst a third sits writing at his desk. Photo Oulds, D C (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 19738 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100632t |
194k | HMS Tracker (D24) listing in a heavy swell while supporting convoys in the North Atlantic, September–October 1943. (Note that the original photo is reversed.) Photo ©A 19745 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. |
Mike Green | |
NS030100630t |
122k | A No 816 Squadron Swordfish Mk II (HS674) that came to grief after "doing the splits" on board the escort carrier HMS Tracker, in October 1943; the wartime censor is clearly nervous about the underwing stores it is carrying. The details of the unofficial artwork near the pilot's cockpit are unknown. Photo courtesy Philip Jarrett. Photo and text from Swordfish: From The Cockpit, by Donald Payne. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100626t |
52k | Black smoke rises as the fire is got under control after a Grumman Avenger crashed on the flight deck of HMS Tracker whilst on Russian convoy duty. Photo taken by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Id A22864 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100614t |
181k | Fire aboard HMS Tracker (D24), ex-BACV-6, ex-Mormacmail, after one of her Avengers crashed on landing in April 1944. The work of the fire teams has added urgency as they struggle to stop flames reaching the ready-use ammunition locker for the aft AA armament just below the flight deck. Imperial War Museum. Photo No:A22863. Photo and text from "Fleet Air Arm Handbook: 1939–1945" by David Wragg. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100637t |
453k | A Grumman Avenger Mk.I (FN908) of No. 846 Squadron, from HMS Tracker (D24), date [January–June 1944] and location unknown. Photo courtesy Charles E. Brown. From British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, by Owen Thetford. Sixth revised edition. Pub. by Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd., 24 Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8DR. ISBN 0 851770941. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100638t |
595k | A Grumman Avenger Mk.I of No. 846 Squadron. Note the escort carrier HMS Tracker (D24) in the background. Photo courtesy of FAA Museum. Note: Between August 1943 and October 1945 No.846 Squadron was shore-based at Hatston, Grimsetter, Machrihanish, Burscough, Limavady, Ayr and Crail. Embarked on Ravager (D70), Tracker, Trumpeter (D09) and Premier (D23). From British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, by Owen Thetford. Sixth revised edition. Pub. by Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd., 24 Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8DR. ISBN 0 851770941. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100618t |
113k | Wildcat Mk. VIs of a fighter flight attached to 853 Sqd. aboard HMS Tracker, in May 1944. Note the tail wheel outriggers that allowed the aircraft to be stowed almost fully clear of the main flight deck. Photo and text from 100 Years of British Naval Aviation, by Christopher Shores. |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100621t |
82k | A formation of rocket-armed Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish Mk.IIs with D-Day invasion stripes of No.816 Squadron in 1944. Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum photo. Note: This squadron, normally based aboard HMS Tracker (D24), was attached to No.19 Group RAF Coastal Command at Perranporth and St Merryn for duties in the English Channel leading up to D-Day activities at Normandy, finally disbanding at Perranporth in August 1944. Info taken from "Fleet Air Arm Archive, 1939–1945." |
Robert Hurst | |
NS030100617t |
76k | Avenger Mk IIs of 853 Sqd. from HMS Tracker on their way to bomb targets in Aaransund, Norway, 12 September 1944. Photo and text from 100 Years of British Naval Aviation, by Christopher Shores. |
Robert Hurst | |
Models |
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NS030100619t |
41k | Box of Skywave's 1:700 scale model of HMS Tracker (D24). |
Tommy Trampp | |
Commercial Service |
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NS030100603t |
358k | Post-war, as mercantile Corrientes. Alberto, then 4 years old, was a passenger aboard Corrientes in June 1952, from Genoa, Italy to Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
Alberto de la Vega, Chile | |
NS030100622t |
84k | Postcard showing Argentine mercantile Corrientes, ex-Mormacmail, ex-BACV 6, ex-HMS Tracker (D24), from the Ministerio de Transportes de la Nación, Flota Argentina de Navegación de Ultramar, Compañía Argentina de Navegación. |
Tommy Trampp | |
NS030100624t |
97k | Corrientes, ex-Mormacmail, ex-BACV 6, ex-HMS Tracker (D24). Photo by Hans Graf, Hamburg, Germany, 1950s. |
Gerhard Mueller-Debus | |
NS030100625t |
68k | Corrientes, ex-Mormacmail, ex-BACV 6, ex-HMS Tracker (D24). Photo by Hans Graf, Hamburg, Germany, 1950s. |
Gerhard Mueller‑Debus |
Crew Contact and Reunion Information | ||||||||||||||||
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Last update: 5 October 2024