Allied Warships

HMS Emperor (D 98)

Escort Carrier of the Ameer class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeEscort Carrier
ClassAmeer 
PennantD 98 
Built bySeattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down23 Jun 1942 
Launched7 Oct 1942 
Commissioned6 Aug 1943 
End service12 Feb 1946 
Loss position
 
History

Decommissioned on 6 August 1943.
Transferred to the R.N. and commissioned in R.N. service as HMS Emperor on 6 August 1943.
Returned to the U.S.N. on 12 February 1946.
Stricken on 28 March 1946.
Sold on 26 November 1947 to be broken up for scrap.

Commanding Officers:
A/Capt. Thomas John Norman Hilken, DSO, RN
6 August 1943 - 17 January 1945
Promoted to Capt. on 31 December 1944

A/Capt. Sir Edward Charles Madden, RN
16 January 1945 - 12 February 1946

 
Former nameUSS Pybus

Commands listed for HMS Emperor (D 98)

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CommanderFromTo
1A/Capt. Thomas John Norman Hilken, DSO, RN6 Aug 194317 Jan 1945
2A/Capt. Sir Edward Charles Madden, RN17 Jan 194512 Feb 1946

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Noteable events involving Emperor include:


16 May 1945
On 9 May 1945 the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro and the Japanese destroyer Kamikaze (both offsite links) left Singapore for a transport run to the Andaman Islands. They were sighted the next day in Malakka Strait by the British submarines HMS Statesman (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) and HMS Subtle (Lt. B.J.B. Andrew, DSC, RN). To intercept the Japanese ships a task force made up of 2 battleships, 1 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers, 4 escort carriers and 8 destroyers left Trincomalee. Aircraft from the escort carriers attacked the Nicobar Islands on the 11th, forcing Haguro and Kamikaze to head back to Singapore.

On the 14th the Japanese ships again depart Singapore for the Andaman Islands. They were spotted the next day north-east of Sabang by aircraft the British escort carrier HMS Shah (Capt. W.J. Yendell, RN). A few hours later they were attacked by aircraft from the British escort carrier HMS Emperor (Capt. Sir C. Madden, RN) causing light damaged to Haguro. In the meantime Japanese aircraft have sighted Allied destroyers closing in on Haguro and once again the Japanese ships reverse course.

In anticipation on the Japanese reversal of course the commander of the British 26th DF, Capt. M.L. Power, CBE, DSO with Bar, RN on board HMS Saumarez and the other British destroyers HMS Venus (Cdr. H.G.D. De Chair, DSC with Bar, RN), HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, DSC, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, DSC, RN) and HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, DSC, RN) plotted a course to intercept the Japanese ships which they did shortly before midnight on the 15th. After careful manouvering the destroyers began attacking the Japanese ships from all sides shortly after one o'clock on the 16th. The Haguro was hit by torpedoes and gunfire and sinks around 0230hours in position 04º49'N, 99º42'E but not before she hit the Saumarez with gunfire. The escorting Japanese destroyer Kamikaze escapes with only minor damage.

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