Dates: 1942 -

The USS Hamlin (CVE-15) was one of a large group of escort aircraft carriers built on Maritime Commission C-3 hulls and transferred to the United Kingdom under lend-lease during World War II. Launched by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, 5 March 1942, as AVG-15, aircraft escort vessel, she was sponsored by Mrs. William H. Shea. Her designation was changed to ACV-15, auxiliary aircraft carrier, 20 August 1942, and she was acquired and simultaneously transferred to the United Kingdom 21 December 1942. Hamlin’s designation was changed to CVE-15, escort aircraft carrier, 15 July 1943.

Renamed HMS Stalker (D91), the escort carrier played a vital part in allied operations in the Atlantic. She participated in the Salerno landings in September 1943, providing effective on the spot air support for assault forces. Stalker also took part in the important landings in southern France in August 1944. Returned to the United States 29 December 1945, she was struck from the Navy Register 20 March 1946 and sold to Waterman Steamship Corp. of Mobile, Alabama, 18 December 1946. Waterman in turn sold her to The Netherlands in August 1947 where she was converted to the merchant ship Riouw. Later renamed Lobito in 1968, she was scrapped in Taiwan in September 1975.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Stalker

" Quoting: Christopher Way The Carriers could be worse at sea than most. I think the Ark, Bulwark, Albion, Eagle, Victorious had open tanks, which would slosh about in rough weather, and then went on for a day or two after. On the Hermes I can remember being told that she had had honeycomb ..."

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" Hello Keith,the last sentence of your post about 2 carriers you served on,not to your liking,reminded me of 2  I served on,not to my liking either. They were the escort carriers,HMS Biter and HMS Stalker described at the time by the press as Woolworth carriers. I don’t know if that was a ..."

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