View source for HMS Nairana (D05)

{{Short description|1943 Nairana-class escort carrier of the Royal Navy}}
{{Other ships|HMS Nairana|HNLMS Karel Doorman}}
{{Redirect|MV Port Victor|other ships|Port Victor (disambiguation){{!}}Port Victor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
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|Ship image=HMS Nairana.jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Nairana''
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''Nairana''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[John Brown & Company]]
|Ship laid down=7 November 1941<ref name=uboat/>
|Ship launched=20 May 1943<ref name=uboat/>
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|Ship commissioned=12 December 1943<ref name=uboat/>
|Ship decommissioned=1946
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|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]] D05
|Ship fate=Transferred to the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=Netherlands
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Netherlands|naval}}
|Ship name=HNLMS ''Karel Doorman''
|Ship namesake=[[Karel Doorman]]
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=23 March 1946<ref name=uboat/>
|Ship decommissioned=28 May 1948<ref name=uboat/>
|Ship fate=Returned to Royal Navy
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|Ship name=''Port Victor''
|Ship operator=[[Port Line]]
|Ship namesake=
|Ship acquired=1948
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship fate=Scrapped 1971<ref name=uboat/>
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Nairana|escort carrier}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|14050|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|528|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|68|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power={{convert|11000|hp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × screws
|Ship speed= {{convert|17|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=728
|Ship sensors=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI|{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}} Mk XVI gun]]s
*16 × [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder ({{convert|40|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}) "pom pom"]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft gun]]s (4x4)
*16 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft]] [[autocannon]]s (8x2)
|Ship aircraft=15–20
|Ship aircraft facilities=*Hangar; {{convert|231|x|61|ft|m|abbr=on}}
*1 × [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|lift]]; {{convert|45|x|34|ft|m|abbr=on}}
*8 × arrester wires
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Nairana''''' ({{IPAc-en|n|aɪ|ˈ|r|ɑː|n|ə}}) was the lead ship of the [[Royal Navy]]'s  {{sclass|Nairana|escort carrier}}s that saw service in the [[World War II|Second World War]]. She was built at [[John Brown & Company]] shipyards in [[Clydebank]], [[Scotland]]. When construction started in 1941 she was intended as a [[merchant ship]], but was completed and launched as an escort carrier, entering service at the end of 1943.

''Nairana'' operated escorting convoys and doing anti-submarine work in the [[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic]] and [[Arctic Convoys of World War II|Arctic]] theatres. On 26 May 1944, Royal Navy [[Sea Hurricane]]s operating from ''Nairana'' claimed the destruction of three [[Junkers Ju 290]]s during the defence of a convoy. This represented 10 percent of the total German inventory of the type.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|title=Obituary, Sammy Mearns|date=14 June 2009|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/5533906/Lt-Cdr-Sammy-Mearns.html |access-date=14 October 2010}}</ref> She survived the war, and in 1946 was transferred to the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] as the ''' ''Karel Doorman'' (QH1)''', the first Dutch aircraft carrier. In 1948, she was replaced in the Royal Netherlands Navy by another [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)|vessel of the same name]]. ''Nairana'' was returned to the Royal Navy, and sold to the [[Port Line]] company, becoming the merchant ship ''Port Victor''.

==Design and description==
The ''Nairana''s were a class of three [[escort carrier]]s built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.<ref name=co7678>Cocker (2008), pp.76–78</ref> Escort carriers were designed to protect convoys of merchant ships from U-boat and aircraft attack.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.155.</ref> Following the successful conversion and operation of {{HMS|Activity|D94|2}}, the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] decided to take over three more [[merchant ship]]s while they were still under construction and convert them into escort carriers.<ref name=po111>Poolman (1972), p.111.</ref> The three ships chosen were being built at three different shipyards [[Harland and Wolff]] in [[Northern Ireland]], [[Swan Hunter]] in [[England]] and [[John Brown & Company]] in [[Scotland]].<ref name=po111/> The prototype was built by John Brown who supplied the other two companies with copies of the plans. The three ships were supposed to be identical but in reality they were all slightly different.<ref name=po111/>

HMS ''Nairana''—built by John Brown was launched on 20 May 1943 and completed on 12 December 1943.<ref name=po1112>Poolman (1972), pp.111–112.</ref> She had a complement of 728 men and displaced {{convert|14050|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}. Her other dimensions were a length of {{convert|528|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|68|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|21|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co77>Cocker (2008), p.77.</ref> Her aircraft facilities included a {{convert|495|ft|m|abbr=on}} flight deck,<ref name=po112/> a hangar measuring {{convert|231|x|61|ft|m|abbr=on}}, eight arrestor wires and an [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft lift]] measuring {{convert|45|x|34|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co77/>

She had a traditional [[rivet]]ted hull, steel flight decks and a closed hangar.<ref name= po112>Poolman (1972), p.112.</ref> Propulsion was provided by [[diesel engine]]s connected to two shafts giving {{convert|11000|hp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}, which could propel the ship at {{convert|17|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=co77/> Her armaments concentrated on [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence and comprised two [[QF 4-inch Mk V naval gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] [[dual purpose gun]]s on a twin mount, sixteen [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}]] AA [[autocannon]]s on eight twin mounts and sixteen [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-Pounder "Pom Pom" AA gun]]s on four quadruple mounts.<ref name=co77/> Aircraft assigned were either [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] or [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] aircraft, which could be made up of a mixture of [[Hawker Sea Hurricane]]s, [[Grumman Martlet]]s or [[Fairey Swordfish]].<ref name=co80>Cocker (2008), p.80.</ref>

==Service history==
''Nairana'' was commissioned in December 1943, and moved to [[Gourock]] for working up.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.114.</ref> ''Nairana'' with [[835 Naval Air Squadron]] [[Fleet Air Arm]] on board commenced flying exercises with ''Activity'' on 27 January 1944. Both carriers left the [[River Clyde]] on 29 January with the [[2nd Escort Group]] under the command of [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Frederic John Walker]]. They were to form a "hunter killer group" in the waters west of Ireland, providing cover for two southbound convoys [[List of convoy codes|OS 66 and KMS 70]]. Weather conditions had prohibited flying until 31 January. With clearer weather ''Nairana'' turned into the wind to send off her first anti-submarine patrol. At the same time, {{HMS|Wild Goose|U45|2}} reported contact with a submerged U-boat on her [[ASDIC]]. Warning ''Nairana'' that she had just turned into danger, the carrier took avoiding action. {{GS|U-592||2}} was sunk by ''Wild Goose'' and Walker's own ship {{HMS|Starling|U66|2}}, while a Fairey Swordfish from ''Nairana'' circled the area.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.115.</ref>

At the end of May 1944, ''Nairana'' sailed with the [[15th Escort Group]]. Her air group was still 835 Naval Air Squadron equipped with nine Swordfish and six Sea Hurricanes. The Swordfish patrolled day and night and some contacts were made on the air to surface vessel radar (ASV). All the contacts came to nothing; it is now known the older model ASV in ''Nairana''{{'}}s Swordfish could be detected by receivers on board U-boats. In May, they escorted convoys SL&nbsp;157 ([[Freetown]] to Britain) with MKS&nbsp;48 (Mediterranean to Britain) and the next group SL&nbsp;158 with MKS&nbsp;49. On 25 May, the convoys were located by German [[Junkers Ju 290]] reconnaissance aircraft. From then until the next morning, they were driven off undamaged, but one Sea Hurricane failed to pull out of a dive killing the pilot.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.141–142.</ref> On 26 May 1944, shortly after daybreak, a [[Sea Hurricane]] piloted by Sub-Lieutenant Burgham from ''Nairana'' shot down Ju&nbsp;290 ''9K+FK'' of FAGr&nbsp;5 over the Bay of Biscay. The afternoon of the same day, Sub-Lieutenants Mearns and Wallis attacked two more Ju&nbsp;290s, Mearns shooting down ''9V+GK'' piloted by Kurt Nonneberg, which ditched in the sea. The other Ju&nbsp;290 disappeared on fire into cloud and was assumed to have crashed.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Thomas | first = Andrew |others= illustrated by John Weal | title = Hurricane Aces 1941-45 | publisher = Osprey Publishing | date = 2003 | pages = 81–82 |series=Aircraft of the Aces 67| isbn = 978-1-84176-610-2}}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/5533906/Lt-Cdr-Sammy-Mearns.html Obituary of Lt-Cdr Sammy Mearns]</ref>
[[File:Three rocket projectile Fairey Swordfish.jpg|left|thumb|Three [[Fairey Swordfish]] armed with [[RP-3]] rockets.]]

Russian convoy JW&nbsp;61—which sailed on 20 October—had three escort carriers, ''Nairana'', {{HMS|Vindex|D15|2}} and {{HMS|Tracker|D24|2}}. This was a large convoy of 62 merchant ships with a large escort group. [[Vice-Admiral]] [[Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton]] was in command with ''Vindex'' as his [[flagship]]. ''Nairana'' had 835 Naval Air Squadron with 14 Swordfish IIIs and six Wildcat VIs on board for what would be their first Arctic convoy. ''Vindex'' had the same aircraft types and numbers. The third carrier—''Tracker''—had 10 [[Grumman TBF Avenger|Grumman Avenger]]s and six Wildcats. The short Arctic days meant that most flying would be at night. The three carriers worked a system of eight-hour watches; one would be the duty carrier with its aircraft aloft, the second would be on standby with its aircraft arranged on deck ready to [[Scrambling (military)|scramble]] and the third resting. The two Swordfish-equipped squadrons, because of their better night-flying equipment, shared the nighttime hours while ''Tracker''{{'}}s Avengers worked the daylight hours.<ref name=po144>Poolman (1972), p.144.</ref> The strength of the convoy's escort may have deterred the Germans and no U-boats or reconnaissance aircraft were detected until the convoy approached the [[Kola Inlet]]; even then the heavy escort prevented any attack and the convoy reached port safely. The return convoy RA&nbsp;61 was equally as successful with only one frigate damaged by a torpedo just after leaving Kola and ''Vindex'' had to take avoiding action after detecting a torpedo coming towards her.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.145.</ref> ''Vindex''{{'}}s inexperienced squadron lost a Wildcat pilot when his plane crashed into the sea attempting to land back on board. A Swordfish crashed into the sea following a rocket-assisted take off with the loss of the two-man crew. Another Swordfish crashed on landing with the aircraft initially hung over the ship's side from its tail hook. When the hook gave way, it crashed into the sea and only the pilot was rescued. The squadron in total lost or so severely damaged eight Swordfish and two Wildcats that they could not fly again.<ref name=po146>Poolman (1972), p.146</ref>
[[File:Fleet Air Arm Grumman Wildcat.jpg|thumb|A [[Fleet Air Arm]] [[Grumman F4F Wildcat|Grumman Wildcat]].]]

On 6 February 1945, ''Nairana'', {{HMS|Campania|D48|2}}, the [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Bellona|63|2}}, and eight fleet destroyers joined 26 merchant ships in convoy JW64. This time, the squadrons had spare aircrews for their aircraft and ''Campania''{{'}}s squadron included a [[Fairey Fulmar]] fitted with a [[Royal Air Force]] A1 air-to-air interception radar, for use as a dedicated night fighter.<ref name=po147>Poolman (1972), p.147.</ref> Shortly after the escorts and convoy came together ''Campania''{{'}}s radar operator reported a target approaching. Both carriers scrambled two Wildcats to intercept the intruder. ''Campania''{{'}}s Wildcats arrived first and shot down a [[Junkers Ju 88]]; one of the Wildcats was also shot down with the loss of the pilot. The next morning at 07:45, ''Campania''{{'}}s radar detected aircraft approaching. Two groups of Junkers Ju&nbsp;88 torpedo bombers appeared and the convoy's escorts opened fire. The ships manoeuvred to avoid the torpedo attack and ''Nairana''{{'}}s Wildcats were airborne by 08:10. No ships were hit during the attacks and the bombers evaded the fighters in the heavy cloud cover. ''Campania''{{'}}s Swordfish were flying the daylight anti-submarine patrols, with a mixed armament of four RP-3 rockets and two depth charges.

On 7 November 835 Squadron claimed a Junkers Ju 88 damaged.<ref>Poolman (1972), pp.147–148.</ref> The long Arctic night with only four hours of light a day—together with heavy seas and low visibility—hampered any operations by the Wildcats. In the darkness, the ships could hear the engines of the shadowing German aircraft closing in. ''Campania''{{'}}s night fighting Fulmar took off at 17:30, but its electrics failed as it was approaching the German aircraft and it was forced to return to the carrier. The Fulmar landed off centre and crashed into the safety barrier, putting itself and the carrier out of action. On 10 November, a Swordfish on anti-submarine patrol reported 30 Junkers Ju&nbsp;88s approaching the convoy. The Wildcats took off to intercept the torpedo bombers and the escorts opened fire on them. The combined fire from the escorts and the Wildcats shot down four Ju&nbsp;88s, two more were claimed as probably shot down by the Wildcats, and another was severely damaged. Those Ju&nbsp;88s that did release their torpedoes failed to hit any of the ships and a number of the torpedoes were seen to detonate in the ships' wakes, as they turned away from the attack. Two of the Wildcats were also shot down by the barrage from the escorts.<ref>Poolman (1972), pp.148–149</ref> The combined losses had reduced the escort's fighter cover to three aircraft, one on ''Campania'' and two on ''Nairana''. At 11:30, another group of Ju&nbsp;88 torpedo bombers were discovered approaching. ''Nairana''{{'}}s Wildcats took off and shot one down. The others, under fire from the escorts, dropped their torpedoes too soon and they all missed.<ref>Poolman (1972), p.149.</ref>

The return convoy RA&nbsp;64 left Kola Inlet on the morning of 17 February. One of the escorts and a merchant ship were torpedoed almost immediately. Another merchant ship was torpedoed that afternoon. Terrible weather conditions kept all aircraft grounded until 20 February. When it began to clear, the ''Luftwaffe'' also appeared and the Wildcats were scrambled to intercept them. Two Ju&nbsp;88s were shot down by the fighters, another two by the escorts, and three were damaged.<ref>Poolman (1972), pp.151–152.</ref> The convoys had lost to enemy action two fighters, two escorts and two merchant ships. In return, they claimed 15 aircraft destroyed, seven aircraft probably destroyed and one U-boat sunk.<ref name=po154>Poolman (1972), p.154.</ref> ''Campania'' did one more Russian convoy JW&nbsp;65 in March 1945, which had two merchant ships torpedoed and sunk on their approach to Kola Inlet. These were the last losses on a Russian convoy.<ref name= po154/>

[[File:Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (QH1) (2158 000837).jpg|thumb|right|''Karel Doorman'' (QH1) of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]].]]
With the war over there was no further need for escort carriers. ''Nairana'' was transferred to the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] in 1946. In Dutch service, she was renamed '''HNLMS ''Karel Doorman'''''. She operated with [[Hawker Sea Fury]] fighters against communist insurgents in [[Dutch East Indies]] in 1947.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Darling |first1=Kev |title=Hawker Typhoon, Tempest and Sea Fury|date=2003 |publisher=The Crowood Press|location= |isbn=1-86126-620-0|pages=129}}</ref> In 1948 she was converted into a merchantman named the '''''Port Victor'''''.<ref>Poolman (1972), pp.155–156.</ref> Until March 1968, ''Port Victor'' was owned by the [[Cunard Line]] but managed by [[Blue Star Line|Blue Star Port Lines]]. She eventually became owned by Port Line in 1971; on 21 July, she was sent to [[Faslane]] to be scrapped.<ref name=uboat>{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2010|publisher=U-boat.net|title=HMS Nairana|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3297.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=14 October 2010|publisher=The Merchant Navy Association|title=Commonwealth & Dominion Line Port Line|url=http://www.red-duster.co.uk/PORT7.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708035811/http://www.red-duster.co.uk/PORT7.htm|archive-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Cocker|first=Maurice|year=2008|title=Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy| publisher=The History Press|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|isbn=978-0-7524-4633-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Poolman|first=Kenneth|year=1972|title=Escort Carrier 1941–1945|publisher=Ian Allan|location=London|isbn=0-7110-0273-8}}

==External links==
*{{cite web | title=uboat.net | url=http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=379}}
*{{cite web | title=World Aircraft Carrier Lists | url=http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/uk_esc.htm#nair-cl}}
*{{cite web | title=The Red Duster | url=http://www.red-duster.co.uk/wp/2016/02/11/commonwealth-dominion-line-port-line/ | access-date=5 September 2017 | archive-date=5 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905094457/http://www.red-duster.co.uk/wp/2016/02/11/commonwealth-dominion-line-port-line/ | url-status=dead }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121006172210/http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20P/slides/Port%20Victor-06.html Photograph of ''Port Victor'']

{{Nairana class escort carrier}}
{{1956 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nairana (D05)}}
[[Category:Nairana-class escort carriers]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Aircraft carriers of the Royal Netherlands Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1956]]