HMS Tracker (D24): Sinking a U-Boat East of Bear Island

Built as a Merchant Ship, Converted for War

HMS Tracker began life as a Maritime Commission contract ship laid down at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding in Tacoma, Washington, originally intended as the merchant vessel Mormacmail before being purchased by the United States Navy and converted into an escort carrier at Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Oregon.

Launched on 7 March 1942 and commissioned on 31 January 1943, she was transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed Tracker under the Lend-Lease Agreement.

Escorting the Arctic Convoys

Through 1943 and 1944, Tracker served as an escort carrier for North Atlantic and Arctic convoys, initially operating Swordfish torpedo bombers and Seafire fighters from 816 Naval Air Squadron, before switching to Grumman Avengers and Wildcats of 846 Naval Air Squadron in January 1944, keeping pace with the rapidly evolving technology of naval aviation.

Sinking U-288

In April 1944, Tracker's aircraft, working alongside those from HMS Activity, were responsible for sinking the German submarine U-288 east of Bear Island during the brutal Arctic convoy JW 58, a particularly significant success in some of the most physically demanding waters any Royal Navy escort carrier operated in during the entire war.

A Collision During D-Day

On 10 June 1944, during operations supporting the Normandy landings, Tracker collided with the Canadian frigate HMCS Teme, sustaining bow damage that required repairs at Liverpool lasting until that September, an unfortunate accident amid the general chaos and intensity of the D-Day period.

Pacific Ferry Duty, and a Long Retirement

Tracker went on to ferry aircraft and personnel in the Pacific theatre before being returned to the United States Navy in November 1945. Sold the following year, she became the Argentine merchant ship Corrientes, continuing a long working life far from her original wartime purpose before finally being scrapped in 1964.