HMS Speaker (D90)

HMS "Speaker" (D90), a "Bogue"-class escort aircraft carrier, based on a "C3" hull, was originally the USS "Delgada" (AVG/ACV/CVE-40) which was transferred to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease program.

Preparations

"Delgada" was launched 20 February 1943 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. James B. Sykes and reclassified CVE-40 on 15 July 1943. She was transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 20 November 1943, and served as HMS "Speaker" (D90).

After the loading of equipment, familiarisation by the Royal Navy sailing crew and a day's steaming trials, "Speaker" was accepted. She was formally commissioned on 20th November, 1943, when the White Ensign was hoisted at a ceremony attended by the builders and the U.S. Naval authorities, and by 6th December she was ready to sail.

As delivered, these carriers required modifications to conform to British standards and the initial works were done at Burrards at Vancouver, Canada. These included extending the flight deck, fitting redesigned Rying controls and fighter direction layout, modifications to hangar, accommodation and store rooms, extra safety measures, oiling at sea arrangements, gunnery and other internal communications, extra wireless and radio facilities, ship black-out arrangements and other necessary items.

After working up off Vancouver, a passage through the Panama Canal on 8th March 1944 (which required temporary adaptations to conform to the width restrictions), further works at Norfolk, Virginia and loading crated aircraft, stores and passengers at Staten Island, New York, "Speaker" sailed for Liverpool on 8th March. She sailed with an eastbound convoy and arrived on 8th April. She returned to the U.S. to perform a second aircraft ferry run.

On 17th May, she was at Greenock awaiting orders. Now required to be an assault aircraft carrier, supporting army operations, she underwent further modifications at the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee.

While waiting for her squadron of Hellcats (1840 Naval Air Squadron) to complete their training, "Speaker" filled in as a training carrier from 16th October to 14th December. Nearly 1,500 landings were made by Barracuda, Swordfish and Helldiver aircraft.

En route to the Far East

In late December, Squadron 1840 embarked with new rocket-fitted, Mk. III Hellcats. "Speaker" sailed for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean on January 11th 1945, in company with HMS|Slinger|D26|6, HMS|Khedive|D62|6 and three destroyers. While passing through the Mediterranean, the flotilla flew an anti-submarine search off North Africa after a reported sighting by a merchantman, but without success. The flotilla continued on to join the Eastern Fleet at Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). They paused briefly at Alexandria and refuelled at Aden. Flying practice continued en route, one aircraft and pilot being lost in an accident in the Red Sea.

At Colombo, where they arrived on 4th February, "Speaker" and "Slinger" were ordered onward to join the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) at Sydney, Australia. While off Western Australia, the two carriers assisted in a search for survivors of a troopship sinking. They arrived at Sydney on 23rd February. Eight of "Speaker"'s aircraft and pilots were transferred to HMS|Indomitable|R92|6. While in port, repairs and maintenance were completed and crew enjoyed shore leave in local homes.

British Pacific Fleet

"Speaker" left Sydney on 9th March for the BPF forward base at Manus Island, via the Jomard Passage, where she joined the search for survivors of the USS Robert Sylvester. After a short and bleak stay, and now part of 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron, they sailed on 18th March with "Striker" and an escort led by HMS Kempenfelt. Their role was to provide air cover (Combat Air Patrol) for the British fuelling area during Operation Iceberg (the invasion of Okinawa). The escort for the "logistic" force were British and Australian destroyers, sloops, frigates and corvettes (such as "Pheasant", "Crane", "Woodcock", "Whimbul", "Avon", "Derg", "Findhorn", "Parrett", "Bathhurst", "Cessnock", "Pirie" and "Whyalla").

Despite the routine nature of the duty and the lack of combat action, the morale of the logistic force and its escorts remained high.

On May 23rd, the BPF retired to Leyte, for replenishment and "Speaker"'s remaining pilots and aircraft, and some maintenance personnel, were transferred to "Indomitable" to boost front-line strength. "Speaker" was transferred to be a replenishment carrier, with a supply of replacement aircraft for the fleet's operational losses and receiving "flyable duds" for repair and injured crew for treatment on the hospital ship , "Oxfordshire".

"Iceberg" completed in mid-May and the BPF returned to Sydney for repairs, storing and shore leave for the crews. En route, "Speaker" took a sick Australian soldier off an American troopship ("Pontius H. Ross") for emergency surgery.

Post-war

She was returned to the United States on 27 July 1946 and sold into merchant service 22 April 1947 as "Lancero" (later renamed "President Osmena" in 1965 and "Lucky One" in 1971). She was sold for scrap in Taiwan in 1972.

References

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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/cve-40/speaker01.htm History of H.M.S. Speaker (1943-1946)]