ACV-43 (later CVE-43) was named Jamaica for Jamaica Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic bordered by Brooklyn and Queens in southwestern Long Island, southeastern New York state (NS0304310).

Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease, she was placed in service as HMS Shah. "Shah" is "a sovereign of Iran." The crown featured on the ship's badge appears to be a stylized version of the Pahlavi Crown of Imperial Iran with added egret's feathers and pearls.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps. Ship's badge courtesy of Tommy Trampp; text courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers.)

HMS Shah (D21), ex-Jamaica (CVE-43), with Avengers of 851 Squadron on deck. Date and place unknown.

HMS Shah (D21), ex-Jamaica (CVE-43), date and location unknown.

HMS Shah (D21), ex-Jamaica (CVE-43), date and location unknown.

Overhead view of HMS Shah (D21), formerly Jamaica (CVE-43), moored at San Francisco in January 1944. The ship is ready to ferry a deck load of 29 Wildcats, 12 Avengers and 22 Curtiss Warhawks (P-40) to Melbourne, Australia, Kochi (Cochin), India and Colombo, Ceylon. The CVE painted in camouflage Measure 21, moored on the opposite side of the pier, is sometimes identified as USS Rudyerd Bay (CVE-81), but this is highly questionable given the date of the photo. A more likely candidate is USS Prince William (CVE-31).

Photo source unknown.

HMS Shah ferrying aircraft, possibly in January 1944, en route to Melbourne from San Francisco.

A Mk XI aerial depth charge being loaded onto a Grumman Avenger aircraft aboard the escort carrier HMS Shah (D21) in eastern waters.

Unknown Royal Navy official photographer.

This photograph A 27853 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums on the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

"The Ancient Mariners" performing during a fancy dress parade on the flight deck of HMS Shah (D21) whilst she is in Eastern waters.

Unknown Royal Navy official photographer.

This photograph A 27858 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums on the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

HMS Shah, ex-Jamaica, at Kochi (Cochin), India, after unloading aircraft, late February–early March 1944.

One of HMS Shah's Grumman Avengers gets airborne from the flight deck of HMS Emperor, May 1945, during the British East Indies Fleet hunt for the Japanese heavy cruiser HIMJS Haguro (Shah's catapult was defective). Because of the range, they were carrying no torpedoes, nor could they be supported by Hellcat fighters. Fleet Air Arm photo. Imperial War Museum photo.

Salta, ex-Jamaica (CVE-43), ex-HMS Shah (D21), date and location unknown.

Salta, ex-Jamaica (CVE-43), ex-HMS Shah (D21), date and location unknown.