Story
This freighter was built in 1944 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp..
Historical Notes
In 1973 this vessel was broken up at Taiwan ROC.
Owners & Masters
Before completion she was re-designed and rebuilt as an aircraft carrier.
She was renamed as H.M.S. Puncher, a Canadian-manned Royal Naval Aircraft Carrier in service 1944-46.
In 1944 she was rebuilt in Vancouver BC to RN standards. En-route to Norfolk VA USA she accompanied motor launches from the New Orleans LA USA to New York.
She carried a cargo of aircraft to Casablanca Morocco.
She carried the Corsair aircraft of 845 (RN Squadron to the UK.
In 1945 she joined the Home Fleet for deck landing training.
She was convered to a troop carrier and transported troops into 1946.
She as paid off in 146 and returned to the USN.
She was rebuilt as the freighter Muncaster Castle in 1949.
In 1954 she was renamedas Bardic.
In 1959 she was renamed as Bennevis.
Armament
Two 5" 38 calibre dual purpose guns, eight 40mm Bofors dual AA, twenty 20mm Oerlikon AA. Around 18-24 aircraft, including: 821 Squadron's Fairey Barracudas (from the RN) 881 Squadron's General Motors Wildcat Mk.V's, and later, Mk.VI's (from the RN)
References
- Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON
- Freeman, David J. (2000)
- J.J. Colledge and Ben Warlow (2010) Ships of the Royal Navy. Casemate Oxford UK
