| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Escort carrier |
| Class | Long Island / Archer |
| Pennant | D 78 |
| Built by | Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. (Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 25 Jun 1939 |
| Launched | 14 Dec 1939 |
| Commissioned | 17 Nov 1941 |
| End service | |
| History | HMS Archer's service history includes Atlantic convoy escort from February to November 1942. During November 1942, she ferried 30 P-40 Warhawks from USA to Casablanca, then provided Atlantic convoy escort from December 1942 to October 1943. During this time one of her aircraft, a swordfish from 819 squadron, sank the German Uboat U-752 on 23 May 1943 with rockets in the North Atlantic. HMS Archer started major engine repairs 8/1943 but defects were found to be extremely serious; decommissioned 6 November 1943 and used as a stores hulk. Used as an accomodations hulk after March 1944. Main reduction gears replaced at Belfast starting August 1944; repairs completed March 1945 and transferred to Ministry of War Transport as a ferry carrier (renamed Empire Lagan) 15 March 1945. Returned to USN 9 Jan 1946, stricken for disposal 26 Feb 1946. Sold into merchant service 1946 as Archer. Renamed Anne Salem 1949, Tasmania 1955, Union Reliance 1961. Burned, blown up and grounded to prevent sinking at Houston, TX 7 Nov 1961 after collision with tanker Berean. Salvaged and scrapped at New Orleans starting March 1962. |
Commands listed for HMS Archer (D 78)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Cdr. James Ian Robertson, RN | Oct 1941 | 27 Jun 1943 |
| 2 | Capt. Horace Temple Taylor Bayliss, RN | 27 Jun 1943 | 7 Sep 1943 |
| 3 | A/Cdr. Wilfrid John Nixon, RN | 7 Sep 1943 | 9 Nov 1943 |
| 4 | Cdr. (retired) Henry Ellis Bickley, RN | 9 Nov 1943 | 8 Mar 1944 |
| 5 | Cdr. (retired) Horace Walker, RN | 8 Mar 1944 |
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Notable events involving Archer include:
13 Mar 1943
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with aircraft. Following these exercises attack exercises were carried out during which HMS Archer (Cdr. J.I. Robertson, RN), HMS Biter (Capt. E.M.C. Abel Smith, RN) and three escorts served as the targets. These included night attack exercises. (1)
23 May 1943
German U-boat U-752 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 51°40'N, 29°49'W, by rockets from a Swordfish aircraft (FAA-Sqdn. 819) of the British escort carrier HMS Archer (Capt. H.T.T. Bayliss, RN).
Sources
- ADM 173/18132
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.