The Escort Carrier of The Second World War: Combustible, Vulnerable and Expendable!

Description

To the US Navy they were CVEs! To the Royal Navy auxiliary carriers! To crews of endangered merchantmen in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans they were heaven-sent protection! To their crews they were Combustible, Vulnerable, Expendable! The need for air cover against enemy aircraft and submarines brought unprecedented demand for carriers. Over 100 vessels were converted on specially built for convoy duty. This is their story, warts and all Content: Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION I -- A SHORTAGE OF FLIGHT DECKS Aircraft Transports and Hybrid Carriers Convoys The Merchant Aircraft Carriers Operating aboard the MAC-Ships Striking Back at the U-Boats Notes II -- THE ESCORTS APPEAR Notes III -- LIFE ABOARD Accommodation Life with the Merchant Navy Aboard the Escorts Notes IV -- THE AIRCRAFT Fairey Barracuda Fairey Swordfish Grumman Avenger Grumman Hellcat Grumman Wildcat Hawker Sea Hurricane Supermarine Seafire Supermarine Walrus Vought Corsair Note. V -- WINNING THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTICThe First Phase The Second Phase The Birth of Canadian Naval Aviation The Third Phase The Fourth Phase VI -- HUNTER-KILLER FORCES The Capture of U-505 Hunter-Killer Groups Vindex's First U-Boat Notes VII -- THE ARCTIC CONVOYS Convoy PQ18 Keeping the Convoy Route Open Notes VIII -- TAKING THE WAR TO THE ENEMY Onto the Mainland -- The Salerno Landings Landing in the South of France Attacking the German Convoys The Offensive against the Tirpitz Notes IX -- TAKING THE WAR TO THE ENEMY Pressing towards Rabaul Leyte Gulf. Royal Navy returns to the EastSink the Haguro Aboard the Escort Carriers Notes X -- THE JAPANESE AUXILIARY CARRIERS The Japanese Auxiliaries XI -- AFTER THE WAR Serving with the Dutch and the French Navies Searching for a Role Post-War The American Carriers XII -- THE LIGHT CARRIERS Appendix I -- STANDARD CONVOY AIR PATROL CODENAMES Appendix II -- MERCHANT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS -- MAC-SHIPS Appendix III -- ROYAL NAVY ESCORT CARRIERS Appendix IV -- UNITED STATES NAVY ESCORT CARRIERS Appendix V -- UNITED STATES NAVY ESCORT CARRIERS BY PENNANT NUMBER Appendix VI -- JAPANESE AUXILIARY CARRIERS.