British carriers

[Warlord]

Were the Barras replaced with Avengers because, as the British Fleet was to finally fully enter the Pacific Theater (US Navy grounds) after the strikes at Sumatra (The NEI were closer to the CBI than to the Central Pacific TO), someone wanted standarization for the sake of supplies? Or was the design just too inferior? It´s true that they looked a bit odd, but I think operations in Norway against the remains of the Kriegsmarine showed their worth; besides, the Union Jack ships were left without truly dedicated dive bombers.

Also, I didn´t know the British attacked Truk, even if the place, by the time, was just a little more than an underwater graveyard...

[maxs75]

The Avenger had better range (So important in Pacific) and also it was good to have the same torpedo plane (well, not often used as torpedo bomber, but often with rockets and bombs) as USN. Anyway the RN light carriers arrived in Pacific equipped with Corsairs and Barracudas, so FAA for sure had all Barracuda's spare parts at Sydney and Manus.

Yes, Truk wasn't the same as in February 1944, when TF58 made the famous raid. It was often bombed by USAAF B-24, IIRC from march 1944. But it was good for live training, as were many bypassed islands.

Max

[maxs75]

Originally Posted by R Leonard

Operation Inmate, Strikes on Truk, June 14 & 15 1945
HMS Implacable:
803 Squadron: Seafire L.III; Lt Cdr(A) L.D. Wilkinson, DSC, RNVR
880 Squadron: Seafire L.III & FR.III; Lt Cdr(A) R.M. Crosley, DSC & bar, RNVR
1771 Squadron: Firefly I; Lt Cdr W.R.J. MacWhirter, DSC, RN
828 Squadron: Avenger II; Lt Cdr F.A. Swanton, DSC, RN

Regards,

Rich

Rich,
the first squadron of Implacable is No. 801, not 803.

Max

[maxs75]

Originally Posted by R Leonard

BPF, July 1945, RN unless otherwise noted:

Commander Carrier Task Force 37 - VAdm Sir Bernard Rawlings, KCB, KBE

Implacable - Capt CC Hughes-Hallett, CBE
38th Naval Fighter Wing - ????
880 Squadron (Seafire) - Lt Cdr RM Crosley, DSC (w/Bar)
801 Squadron (Seafire) - Lt Cdr S Jewers, RNVR
828 Squadron (TBM) - Lt Cdr FA Swanton, DSC
1771 Squadron (Firefly) - Lt Cdr WRJ MacWhirter, DSC

Indefatigable Capt QD Graham, CBE, DSO
24th Naval Fighter Wing - Lt Cdr NG Hallett, DSC (w/Bar)
887 Squadron (Seafire) - Lt Cdr AJ Thomson, DSC, RNVR
894 Squadron (Seafire) - Lt Cdr J Crossman, DSO, RNVR
820 Squadron (TBM) - Lt FL Jones, DSC (w/Bar), RNVR
1770 Squadron (Firefly) - Maj VBG Chessman, DSO, MBE, DSC, RM

Victorious Capt MM Denny, CB, CBE
47th Naval Fighter Wing - Lt Col RC Hay, DSO (w/Bar), DSC, RM
1834 Squadron (F4U) - Lt Cdr PN Charlton, DFC
1836 Squadron (F4U) - Lt Cdr JB Edmundson, DSC
849 Squadron (TBM) - Lt Cdr AJ Griffiths, RN

Formidable Capt P Ruck-Keene
6th Naval Fighter Wing - Lt Cdr RL Bigg-Wither, DSC (w/Bar), RNVR
1841 Squadron (F4U) - Lt Cdr Bigg-Wither
1842 Squadron (F4U) - Lt Cdr DG Parker, DSC, RNVR
848 Squadron (TBM) - Lt Cdr TGV Percy

King George V (FltFlg) Capt BB Schofield, CBE
ComCruSquad4 - RAdm EJP Brind, CB CBE
Newfoundland (FlgCruSqd4) Capt RW Ravenhill, CBE, DSC
Black Prince Capt GV Gladstone
Euryalas Capt RS Warne, CBE
Achilles (RNZN) Capt FJ Butler, MBE
Uganda (RCN) Capt ER Mainguy, RCN
Gambia (RNZN) Capt RAB Edwards, CBE
Grenville (4thDesFlot) Capt RG Onslow, DSO
Udine Cdr TC Robinson, DSC
Urania Lt Cdr DHP Gardiner, DSC
Urchin Lt Cdr AF Harkness, OBE, DSC, RD, RNVR
Ulysses Lt Cdr BGB Bordes, DSC
Undaunted Lt Cdr CER Sharp
Quiberon (RAN) Cdr GS Stuart, RAN
Quickwatch (RAN) Lt Cdr OH Becher, DSC, RAN
Quality Cdr Viscount Jocelyn
Quadrant Lt Cdr PC Hopkins
Troubridge (2DesFlot) Capt GF Burghard
Tenacious Lt Cdr GC Crowley, DSC
Termagent Lt Cdr DC Beatty, DSC
Terpsichore Cdr RT White, DSC
Teazer Lt Cdr TF Taylor, DSC

Indefatigable:
No 1772 squadron, not 1770 Firefly from june 1945.

Max