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Destroyer HMS Janus (F 53)

11 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) is docked at the Simonstown Navy Yard for repairs and refit. (1)

Escort Carrier HMS Ranee (D 03)

21 Jan 1945

Convoy UC 53B.

This convoy departed the U.K. on 21/22 January 1945.

The Irish Sea section of the convoy was made up of the following ships; Columbia Star (British, 8293 GRT, built 1939), Drina (British (tanker), 9789 gRT, built 1944), Esso Wilmington (American (tanker), 10169 GRT, built 1942), Fort Henry (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1943), Ocean Mail (American, 7842 GRT, built 1941), Paoli (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Stony Creek (American, 10448 GRT, built 1943), Taranaki (British, 10534 GRT, built 1928) and Woodstock Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944). Most of these ships came from Liverpool.

The escort carrier (ferry carrier) HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) was also part of the convoy. She had no aircraft on board.

The Irish Sea section of the convoy was escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Thomas J. Gary (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Ayer, USNR, with COMTASKGR 61.1.2 / COMCORTDIV 57, Cdr. T.G. Murrell, USNR, on board) and USS Finch (Lt.Cdr. C.D. LeHardy, USNR). The former had sailed with the Liverpool section of the convoy, the second with the Milford Haven section.

Around 0100A/23, the English Channel section of the convoy joined with the Irish Sea section in position 49°50'N, 10°20'W. The English Channel section was made up of the following ships; Henry Gibbons (American, 12097 GRT, built 1943) and Sea Robin (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944). They were escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Brister (Lt.Cdr. R.D Tucker, USNR) and USS Richey (Lt. R.J. Auge, USCG).

Around 1130Q/1, HMS Ranee parted company with the convoy. To escort her the destroyer escort USS Cecil J. Doyle (Lt. W.G. Claytor, Jr., USNR) had joined shortly before coming from Bermuda. They arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone on 6 February 1945.

The convoy arrived at New York on 3 February 1945.

6 Feb 1945
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) and USS Cecil J. Doyle (Lt. W.G. Claytor, Jr., USNR) arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone.

USS Cecil J. Doyle immediately transited the Panama Canal westbound and arrived at Balboa later the same day. (2)

7 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal westbound. On leaving the Canal USS Cecil J. Doyle (Lt. W.G. Claytor, Jr., USNR) rejoined her and course was set for San Diego, California. (2)

15 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) and USS Cecil J. Doyle (Lt. W.G. Claytor, Jr., USNR) arrived at San Diego from the Panama Canal Zone. (2)

21 Feb 1945
The escort carrier (in an aircraft ferry role) HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) and the destroyer USS Hugh W. Hadley (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN) departed San Diego for Pearl Harbour. On board the Ranee were 63 aircraft. (3)

27 Feb 1945
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) and the destroyer USS Hugh W. Hadley (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN) both arrived at Pearl Harbour. The destroyer had proceeded ahead after having been relieved as escort by the patrol vessel USS PC-580 (Lt. A.L. Anderson, USNR). (3)

2 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The escort carrier (in an aircraft ferry role) HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Pearl Harbour for Eniwetok. (4)

9 Mar 1945
The escort carrier (in an aircraft ferry role) HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at Eniwetok from Pearl Harbour.

She departed for Guam later the same day. She now had an escort, the destroyer escort USS Fleming (Lt.Cdr. K.F. Burgess, Jr., USNR). (4)

12 Mar 1945
The escort carrier (in an aircraft ferry role) HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at Guam from Eniwetok. Her escort, the destroyer escort USS Fleming (Lt.Cdr. K.F. Burgess, Jr., USNR) did not enter the harbour but proceeded to Ulithi where she arrived the following day.

At Guam HMS Ranee disembarked the 63 aircraft that had been onboard. This was completed on the 13th. (5)

15 Mar 1945
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Guam for Pearl Harbour. On board was US military personnel. She was escorted until 1700L/18 (to the vicinity of Eniwetok) by the destroyer escort USS George (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Just, USNR). (6)

24 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Guam. She was escorted in by the patrol vessel USS PC-486 (Lt. R.B. Whitney, USNR). (4)

29 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Pearl Harbour from Guam. On board were US military personnel as well as replacement aircraft.

Around 1545M/5, the destroyer escort USS Edward C. Daly (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Deits, USNR) joined near Eniwetok. (7)

8 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at Guam from Pearl Harbour. Her escort, the destroyer escort USS Edward C. Daly (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Deits, USNR), also arrived at Guam. (8)

9 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Guam for Pearl Harbour. On board was US military personnel. She was escorted until 1545L/12 (to the vicinity of Eniwetok) by the destroyer escort USS Osmus (B.W. Pattishall, USNR). (9)

18 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Guam. (10)

19 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Pearl Harbour for San Diego. (10)

26 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at San Diego from Pearl Harbour. At San Diego she commenced boiler cleaning. (10)

2 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed San Diego for the Panama Canal Zone. (11)

10 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) transited the Panama Canal eastbound. (11)

13 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0820R/13, in approximate position 20°06'N, 73°45'W (in the Windward Passage), the escort carrier HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) was joined by the destroyer escort USS Heyliger (Lt. A.F. Chace, Jr., USNR). (12)

16 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930Q/16, HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) and USS Heyliger (Lt. A.F. Chace, Jr., USNR) parted company off Chesapeake Bay which HMS Ranee then entered. She arrived at Norfolk later that morning. USS Heyliger continued on to New York where she arrived the following day. (12)

23 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After having embarked aircraft for the U.K., HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) departed Norfolk for New York. (11)

24 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived at New York from Norfolk. (11)

25 May 1945

Convoy CU 72.

This convoy departed New York on 25 May 1945.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports / tankers; Allatoona (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), Aztec (Hunduran, 5511 GRT, built 1929), Blue Licks (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1945), Champion's Hill (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Chicaca (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1945), Churubusco (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Empire Law (British (tanker), 8128 GRT, built 1944), Empire Protector (British (tanker), 8148 GRT, built 1944), Fort Ridgley (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), French Creek (American (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1944), Great Republic (American, 6178 GRT, built 1943), Hammerfest (Norwegian (tanker), 10297 GRT, built 1945), James Parker (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Karsten Wang (Norwegian (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Kirkenes (Norwegian (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Raphael Semmes (American, 6165 GRT, built 1942), Red Bank (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Robin Sherwood (American, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Sea Tiger (American, 7886 GRT, built 1944), Sweepstakes (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944) and Wolf Creek (American (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1944).

The escort carrier, in an aircraft ferry role, HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) was also part of the convoy.

The convoy was escorted by Task Group 61.8 which was made up of the destroyer escorts USS Pillsbury (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Cassleman, USNR, with COMTASKGR 61.8 / COMCORTDIV 4, Capt. J.R. Litchfield, USNR, on board), USS Pope (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Montgomery, USNR), USS Flaherty (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Duff, USNR), USS Chatelain (Lt.Cdr. D.S. Knox, USNR) and USS Neunzer (Lt.Cdr. V.E. Gex, USNR).

Around 0715Q/26, the Boston section of the convoy, made up of the (troop) transport General T.H. Bliss (American, 9943 GRT, built 1942) joined. She had been escorted to the rendezvous by the destroyer escorts USS Amick (with, COMCORTDIV 15, T/Cdr. F.C.B. McCune, USN, on board), USS Atherton (Lt. L. Iselin, USNR) and USS Booth (Lt. J.L. Rinn, USNR).

On 1 June 1945, the USS Raphael Semmes straggled from the convoy due to defects. She was ordered to proceed to her destination independently.

On 2 June 1945, the convoy split into the 'Irish Sea section ' escorted by USS Pope and USS Chatelain and the 'English Channel section ' escorted by USS Pillsbury, USS Flaherty and USS Neunzer.

On 3 June 1945, USS Pope arrived at Liverpool with the ' Liverpool Section ' of the convoy. USS Chatelain had been detached on 2 June 1945 with the ' Bristol Channel Section ' of the convoy made up of two ships, one of which was the Kirkenes. USS Chatelain arrived at Cardiff on 3 June 1945. HMS Ranee proceeded to the Clyde where she arrived on 4 June 1945.

Around 0300A/3, the ' English Channel Section ' of the convoy was joined by the frigates HMS Ascension (Cdr. W.J. Moore, DSC, RNR) and HMS Moorsom (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, DSC, RD, RNR). They remained in company until around 1515A/3.

Around 1600A/3, the ' English Channel Section ' of the convoy was joined by the frigate HMS Kingsmill (Lt. G.H. Cook, RN).

Around 1700A/3, the ships for Le Havre parted company escorted by USS Flaherty and USS Neunzer. These were the Aztec, Empire Law, General T.H. Bliss, James Parker and Sea Tiger. On delivering these ships at Le Havre the destroyer escorts proceeded to Portsmouth.

Around 1900A/3, the ships for the east coast of the U.K. parted company escorted by HMS Kingsmill.

USS Pillsbury arrived at Portsmouth around 2000A/3. The Fort Ridgley, Robin Sherwood and Sweepstakes proceeded to Southampton.

4 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ranee (A/Capt. J.A.W. Tothill, DSC, RN) arrived off Greenock (Tail of Bank) from passage from the USA with convoy CU 72.

She was then taken in hand for alterations to serve as transport carrier with the British Pacific Fleet. She was still undergoing conversion where Japan surrendered. She was then converted for trooping duties.

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