ARCHER escort aircraft carrier

Name	No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Archer (ex-BAVG1, ex-Mormacland)	D78	Sun SB, Chester, USA // Newport News, USA	1/8/1939	14/12/1939	4/1940 // 17/11/1941	sold for mercantile service 3/1945 (Empire Lagan)

Displacement standard, t

10220 (including liquid ballast)

Displacement full, t

12860

Length, m

150.0 wl

Breadth, m

21.2 wl 23.7 fd

Draught, m

6.65 deep load

No of shafts

1

Machinery

2 Busch-Sulzer diesels

Power, h. p.

8500

Max speed, kn

16.5

Fuel, t

diesel oil 1362

Armament

3 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, 16 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Buffalo, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers)

Sensors type 79, 271 radars

Complement 555

Aircraft facilities (fd - 3,164m², ha - ~ 1,275m² / 7,382m³): Flight deck: 133.5 x 23.7m, hangar was 5.79m in height. There was 1 lift (11.6 x 10.4m, 5.4t) and 1 catapult H-II (3.2t plane was launched at113 km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 398,000l, but immediately after commissioning stowage was decreased to 164,000l.

Year	Fighters	Torpedo-bombers
5/1943	3 Martlet	9 Swordfish

Ship project history: First British escort aircraft carrier ordered in the USA by the agreement about lend-lease. Works have begun in April — May, 1941. Archer have been rebuilt from already ready vessel for 6 months in 5 - 11/1941. Structurally she was differed from three remaining ships built from not finished transports. Archer was flush-decked, without an island.

Carrier had hull of standard type СЗ transport. The stability was ensured with a concrete ballast (1800t). Besides, holding of 1000t of a water-ballast was recommended. Ship had no armour or underwater protection.

Machinery included two diesels, working on one shaft through a reducton gear. Diesel fuel stowage consisted from 1362 - 1600t of ship stock and 1100 - 1700t in additional (cargo) tanks, used mainly for a refuelling of the ships of an escort at sea.

Modernizations: 8/1942: - 3 x 1 - 102/50; + 3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA

3/1943: - 1 x 1 - 20/70, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors

10/1943: - 3 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon

Naval service: No significant events.

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ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

AIRCRAFT CARRYING SHIPS

ARCHER escort aircraft carrier

Displacement standard, t	10220 (including liquid ballast)
Displacement full, t	12860
Length, m	150.0 wl
Breadth, m	21.2 wl 23.7 fd
Draught, m	6.65 deep load
No of shafts	1
Machinery	2 Busch-Sulzer diesels
Power, h. p.	8500
Max speed, kn	16.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 1362
Armament	3 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, 16 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Buffalo, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers)
Sensors	type 79, 271 radars
Complement	555