Dasher 1943
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Avenger (ex-BAVG2, ex-Rio Hudson) | D14 | Sun SB, Chester, USA // Bethlehem, Staten Is, USA | 28/11/1939 | 27/11/1940 | 2/3/1942 | sunk 15/11/1942 |
| Biter (ex-BAVG3, ex-Rio Parana) | D97 | Sun SB, Chester, USA // Atlantic Basin Iron Wks, Brooklyn, USA | 28/12/1939 | 18/12/1940 | 1/5/1942 | to France 9/4/1945 (Dixmude) |
| Dasher (ex-BAVG5, ex-Rio de Janeiro) | D37 | Sun SB, Chester, USA // Tietjen & Lang, USA | 14/3/1940 | 12/4/1941 | 1/7/1942 | sunk 27/3/1943 |
| Charger (ex-BAVG4, ex-Rio de la Plata) | --- | Sun SB, Chester, USA // Newport News, USA | 19/1/1940 | 1/3/1941 | 2/10/1941 | to USA 4/10/1941 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
10366 (Biter later - 12850) |
|
Displacement full, t |
15125 (Biter later - 15300) |
|
Length, m |
150.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
21.2 wl 23.7 fd |
|
Draught, m |
7.67 deep load (Biter later - 7.75) |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
4 Doxford diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
8500 |
|
Max speed, kn |
16.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 3061 (Biter later - 1308 t fuel oil and 1097 t cargo oil) |
|
Armament |
3 x 1 - 102/50 Mk 9, 15 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 6 x 1 - 12.7/90, 15 aircraft (Fulmar, Sea Hurricane, Seafire, Buffalo, Martlet fighters, Swordfish torpedo bombers) |
| Sensors | type 79, 271 radars |
| Complement | 555 |
Aircraft facilities (fd - 2,963 (3,192)m², ha - ~ 1,275m² / 6,222m³): Flight deck: 125 (later 134.7) x 23.7m, hangar was 4.88m in height. There was 1 lift (12.8 x 10.4m, 5.4t) and 1 catapult H-II (3.2t plane was launched at 113km/h). Aircraft fuel stowage was 341,000l, but immediately after commissioning stowage was decreased to 164,000l.
| Year | Fighters | Torpedo bombers |
| 9/1942 Avenger | 12 Sea Hurricane | 3 Swordfish |
| 2/1944 Biter | 4 Wildcat | 11 Swordfish |
Ship project history: First (with Archer) British escort aircraft carriers ordered in the USA by the agreement about lend-lease. They were converted from hulls of transport ships. Works have begun in April — May, 1941. Avenger was flush-decked, without an island. Remaining ships had small island on the starboard.
Carriers had hulls of standard type ΡΗ transports. The stability was ensured with a concrete ballast (1930t). Besides, holding of 1000t of a water-ballast was recommended. Ships 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, Biter; 10/1942, Dasher: - 3 x 1 - 102/50; + 3 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA10/1943, Biter: - 4 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon
Naval service: Avenger has been torpedoed by German submarine U155 in 100nm W of Gibraltar 15/11/1942. She has blown up and sunk within three minutes. 505 people dead. Dasher was lost as a result of explosion of aviation petrol tanks 27/3/1943 in river Clyde mouth. 378 people were lost.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09