The US Navy named ACV-35 Baffins for a bay, more commonly known as Baffin Bay, on the southern coast of Texas, emptying into the Laguna Madre that follows the Gulf shore between Corpus Christi and the mouth of the Rio Grande and separates Padre Island from the Texas mainland (NS0303515).

Assigned to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease, she was decommissioned on 20 July 1943 and turned over to the Royal Navy. Her British name was Ameer, a transliteration of amir, the title given an Afghan ruler.

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

Ship's badge. On a red field, two white swords in saltire, surmounted by Ameer of Afghanistan's headdress, proper, with gold plume and braid. The design depicts elements of the insignia of Amanullah Khan, Ameer (1919–1929).

This photo may have been taken at Burrard's Dry Dock in North Vancouver, British Columbia, where HMS Ameer was modified to Royal Navy standards in the second half of 1943.

(Digitally enhanced by Tom Kermen.)

HMS Ameer (D01, ex-Baffins) tied up in port. Note the considerable overhang of the flight deck. The starboard forecastle 20-mm mount is clearly visible, together with its "stop" rail, fitted to prevent any chance of the weapons being fired towards the carrier's flight deck. Photo courtesy of Ted Ward.

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

Shown at sea, escorted by a destroyer (this is identified as HMS Raider on the photo, but in fact appears to be HMS Wager (R98)).

HMS Ameer, ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35), tied up to a buoy, with members of her crew painting her sides, date and location unknown.

Photo from The Royal Navy Handbook, 1939–1945, by David Wragg.

Undated pic of the escort carrier HMS Ameer (D01) refuelling an unidentified RN fleet destroyer, location unknown. Photo courtesy of C.S. "Bill" Drake.

Photo and text from A Century of British Naval Aviation: 1909–2009, by David Wragg.

Undated picture of Grumman Hellcats F.Mk.II of No. 804 Squadron at the far end of the flight deck of HMS Ameer ready to use the full length of the carrier to help take off when there is little wind. Photo taken by an unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo # A 27343 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

The R.N pilot of a Grumman Hellcat F.Mk.II of No.804 Squadron makes an abortive landing aboard HMS Ameer and powers up to fly around and attempt again after his first approach was too high. Photo taken by an unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo # A 27346 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

HMS Ameer (D01) at anchor at Greenock, Scotland, showing the flight deck crowded with aircraft, on 10 January 1944. Photo by Lieutenant S.J. Beadell, Official Royal Navy photographer. Imperial War Museum: Cat No:A21338.

Newly converted in British Columbia for Royal Navy service, HMS Ameer (D01) is anchored in Greenock, Scotland on 10 January 1944, with a deck load of planes.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Beadell, S.J. (Lt), Photo No. ©IWM(A 21339).

Port quarter view of the British escort carrier HMS Ameer (D01), 10 January 1944, at Greenock, Scotland. Photo shows arrangement of the stern, sponsoned 5-inch and 40mm. A.A. guns, the latter with two directors mounted between them.

Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection, by Beadell, S.J. (Lt.). Photo No. © IWM (A 21340). Also found in Navies of the Second World War, by H.T. Lenton (Doubleday & Co., 1968).

An unusual sight in a Far East Harbor. A Grumman Avenger bomber of the Royal Navy is launched into the air from the flight deck of HMS Ameer (D01). Pilots call this method of getting airborne as being "squirted" off.

Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 27964).

A large group of men helping to clear a crashed Grumman Hellcat of 804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, from the flight deck of the Escort Carrier HMS Ameer (D01) whilst others look on. This photograph was taken during the eleven days of action in the course of the successful landings on the islands of Ramree and Cheduba, in the second half of January 1945. Photo taken by a Royal Navy Official Photographer.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 27349).

A large pile of belted-up ammunition in the foreground. Armourers check and load ammunition for Hellcat fighters on the flight deck of HMS Ameer (D01). The photograph was taken during the eleven days of action in the course of which the successful landings on the islands of Ramree and Cheduba were made, second half of January 1945. Photo taken by a Royal Navy Official Photographer.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 27345).

Whilst the armourer ratings unload its guns, a group assembles round a crashed Grumman Hellcat of 804 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, as it hangs over the edge of the ship, to decide how it should be removed to clear the deck aboard HMS Ameer (D01). The photograph was taken during the eleven days of action in the course of which the successful landings on the islands of Ramree and Cheduba were made, second half of January 1945. Photo taken by a Royal Navy Official Photographer.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM(A 27348).

The British escort carrier HMS Ameer—ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35)—drydocked in the port of Durban, S. Africa, in March 1945.

HMS Ameer, ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35), as part of the British EIF (East Indies Fleet) tied-up at Trincomalee, Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) on VJ-Day, with Hellcats of No.896 Sqd, FAA embarked (Fleet Air Arm Museum).

HMS Ameer, possibly at Trincomalee as she is in the false hull camouflage worn in the Far East.

SS Robin Kirk, ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35), ex-HMS Ameer (D01), after conversion into a combo-liner. Apparently, her original short stack had to be lengthened soon, as shown here, to avoid too much soot on the afterdeck.

Photo source unknown.

SS Robin Kirk, ex-HMS Ameer, ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35), in Durban, South Africa, date unknown. Note her funny smokestack.

SS Robin Kirk, ex-HMS Ameer, ex-USS Baffins (CVE-35), in a US port around 1965. Photo M. Lennon.