Allied Warships
HMS Atheling (D 51)
Escort Carrier of the Ameer class
Photo courtesy of Allan C. Green Collection
| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Escort Carrier |
| Class | Ameer |
| Pennant | D 51 |
| Built by | Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 9 Jun 1942 |
| Launched | 7 Sep 1942 |
| Commissioned | 1 Aug 1943 |
| End service | 13 Dec 1946 |
| History | Decommissioned for transfer to the R.N. on 31 July 1943. |
| Former name | USS Glacier |
Commands listed for HMS Atheling (D 51)
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| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Capt. Ronald Ian Agnew, OBE, RCN | Jun 1943 | Jul 1944 |
| 2 | A/Cdr. Henry Lewis Oliver, RN | Jul 1944 | Oct 1945 ? |
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Notable events involving Atheling include:
10 Jun 1944
Operation Councillor.
Simulated raid towards the Sabang area to give the enemy the impression that an air attack on Sabang was to take place in the morning of June 12th.
This operation took place at the same time as US operations in the Marianas.
On 10 June 'Force 68' departed Trincomalee. For this occasion 'Force 68' was made up of the following warships: aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CB, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), escort carrier HMS Atheling (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN), light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. the Viscount Jocelyn, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN).
In order not to have to approach the coast to much the submarine Surf transmitted a signal by W/T in the evening of June 11th to simulate that the force was closing Sabang.
Flying practices were carried out throughout. On 11 June two aircraft from HMS Illustrious were lost due to accidents.
The whole force returned to Trincomalee in the afternoon of 13 June. (1)
Sources
- ADM 199/1388
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.