>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1976) Vol. 6, p.239.





ST. GEORGE



CVE-17

Displacement:  9,800 t.

Length:  492’

Beam:  69’6”

Extreme Width:  111’6”

Draft:  23’3”

Speed:  16.5 k.

Complement:  890

Armament:  2 5”; 8 40mm; 15 20mm

Class:  BOGUE

Maritime Commission standard type:  C3-S-A2



	ST. GEORGE (CVE-17) was laid down on 31 July 1941 by 

Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss., under 

Maritime Commission contract as SS MORMACLAND (MC Hull 163); 

renamed ST. GEORGE (AVG-17) by the United States Navy on 7 

January 1942; assigned to the United Kingdom under 

Lend-Lease as HMS PURSUER (D.73) on 24 February 1942; 

launched on 18 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ann S. 

Bartman; reclassified ACV-17 on 20 August 1942; acquired by 

the Navy and simultaneously transferred to Britain on 14 

June 1943.  She was reclassified CVE-17 on 15 July 1943.



	HMS PURSUER served in the Home Fleet during World War 

II, primarily on convoy escort duty.  On 3 April 1944, 

however, she provided fighter support for an air strike on 

the German battleship TIRPITZ in Altafjord, Norway, which 

disabled the German ship for three months.  In August and 

September 1944, she served with a British carrier group 

providing air cover for the landings in southern France.  

The carrier was returned to United States custody on 12 

February 1946, struck from the Navy list on 28 March 1946, 

and sold for scrapping on 14 May 1946 to the Patapsco Steel 

Scrap Co., Bethlehem, Pa.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com