ACV-17 was laid down as SS Mormacland, 31 July 1941. Renamed St. George by the US Navy, 7 January 1942, for a sound on the coast of Florida (NS0301712). Assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease as HMS Pursuer, 24 February 1942.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman..)

HMS Pursuer, date and place unknown.

(Digitally enhanced by Tom Kermen.)

Bow view of HMS Pursuer, showing prominent sponsons fore and aft and small ducts at flight deck sides and an HF/DF mast forward of island.

"Convoy defenders shot down two at night. 6 March 1944, Greenock. The arrival back in a British port of the escort carrier HMS Pursuer. Four of her Grumman Wildcat fighters successfully defended a valuable Atlantic convoy in a night action against enemy aircraft 360 miles west of Cape Finisterre."

©Imperial War Museums photo, # A 22178. Admiralty Official Collection, by Lt S.J. Beadell.

FAA crewmen in the briefing room aboard the escort carrier HMS Pursuer.

Photo and text from The British Aircraft Carrier, by Paul Beaver.

A Fleet Air Arm Grumman Wildcat Mk.V of No.896 Squadron based aboard the escort carrier HMS Pursuer (D73). Fleet Air Arm Museum photo.

Image scanned from British Naval Aircraft since 1912, by Owen Thetford.

Undated photo of HMS Pursuer (D73) moored after arriving back at Greenock, Scotland, from patrol.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 22179).

HMS Pursuer (D73) underway in July 1943, acting as transport for her maiden crossing to the UK. Note that the fins of the P-47 Thunderbolts on deck have been removed in order to accommodate more aircraft. The meaning of the rectangle in the US wing insignia position of each aircraft is unclear. US National Archives photo.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by Roger Chesneau.

HMS Pursuer with three of her Wildcat fighters airborne over her; 1944.

(Thanks to Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers, for the identification).

A Royal Navy Grumman Wildcat V of No.881 or No.896 Naval Air Squadron taking off from the escort carrier HMS Pursuer (D73) during escort operations with a convoy escort group, in March 1944. Photo by unknown Royal Navy official photographer.

Part of Admiralty Official Collection. This photograph A 22365 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

HMS Pursuer underway, with aircraft carrier HMS Furious in the background, 31 March 1944.

On April 3, along with aircraft carrier Victorious and escort carriers Emperor, Fencer and Searcher, Pursuer and Furious took part in Operation Tungsten, a successful strike on German battleship Tirpitz in Kåfjord, Norway.

On April 26, again with Victorious, Emperor and Searcher, and with escort carrier Striker, they took part in Operation Ridge Able, an attack on shipping in and around Bodo, Norway.

Photo NS0301704a, uncropped version of NS0301704, shows Pursuer, Furious and another escort carrier. Photo taken by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo No. 17769 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Fighter pilots in the briefing room of HMS Pursuer (D73) check over the details of their next operation with their Squadron Leader, Lieutenant Commander L.A. Hordern, who is using a cane to point out particular features on a map.

Photo by Davies, F.A. (Lt), Royal Navy official photographer. Part of Admiralty Official Collection. This photograph A 23053 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

As seen from HMS Pursuer (D73), HMS Striker (D12), HMS Searcher (D40) in heavy seas off the Norwegian northern coast in April 1944.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Davies, F.A (Lt), Photo No. © IWM(A 23066).

As seen from HMS Pursuer (D73), HMS Emperor (D98), HMS Striker (D12) and an unidentified escort destroyer fight heavy seas off the Norwegian northern coast in April 1944.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Davies, F.A (Lt), Photo No. © IWM(A 23067).

As seen from HMS Pursuer (D73), HMS Emperor (D98), HMS Striker (D12) and an unidentified escort destroyer fight heavy seas off the Norwegian northern coast in April 1944.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Davies, F.A (Lt), Photo No. © IWM(A 23063).

A Grumman Wildcat of No. 882 Squadron Fleet Air Arm being manoeuvred into position for takeoff from HMS Pursuer off the northern coast of Norway, April 1944. Photo taken by Lt. F.A. Davies, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo Id: A 23059 from the photographic collections of the Imperial War Museum.

Note: The real identity of this carrier is in doubt. She is identified as Pursuer by the Imperial War Museum, but No. 882 Squadron was serving aboard HMS Searcher at this time.

As seen from HMS Searcher (D40), Hellcats of 800 Squadron (HMS Emperor) and Wildcats of 882 Squadron (HMS Searcher) overfly HMS Pursuer (D73). The ships are conducting flight operations in the Mediterranean, 20 July 1944.

Imperial War Museums Admiralty Official Collection, by McNeill, M.H.A. (Lt), Photo No. © IWM (A 25042).

Men of HMS Pursuer (D73) enjoying a swim from the ship's side on 4 August 1944, just before setting out as part of the fleet taking part in the invasion of Southern France, beginning August 15th.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 25183).

A 250 lb bomb loaded into one of HMS Pursuer's Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters, which belongs to No.881 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm in preparation for the invasion of Southern France on 15 August 1944. Note that the aircraft's wings are folded.

Lt. John Alfred Hampton Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 25186 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.

View from the escort carrier HMS Pursuer (D73) of other assault carriers in the force which took part in the landings in the south of France on 15 August 1944. Leading are HMS Attacker (D02) and HMS Khedive (D62). Three Grumman Wildcats can be seen parked on the edge of Pursuer's flight deck. Photo taken by Lt. J.A. Hampton, Royal Navy Official photographer. Photo # A 25184 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

HMS Pursuer (R309) underway, Ceylon, July–November 1945.