An Archer is one who shots with a bow and an arrow. The design depicts an English long bowman, someone who has helped vanquish many enemies.

"Second of the CVE's, this C-3 [Mormacland] was to become famous as the British HMS Archer. Her planes sank the U-752 in the Atlantic on May 23, 1943, to make her the first 'Baby Flattop' credited with a sub kill without assistance from other ships."

Aerial view of the SunShip fitting out piers, 2 April 1940, Chester, PA. The second vessel from the left is Seatrain Texas, with her sister Seatrain New Jersey—later becoming USS Lakehurst (APV-3)—to her port. The other two cargo vessels are Mormacmail and Mormacland in unknown order, later becoming USS Long Island (AVG-1) and HMS Archer (D78).

Photo from the Victor Dallin collection, Hagley Museum. Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

The future HMS Archer (D78, U.S. hull number BAVG-1) seen as SS Mormacland, in distance at SunShip Chester, PA, in 1941. Photos from the LIFE magazine collection, photographer Dmitri Kessel (for educational and non-commercial use only).

Mormacland, of the Moore-McCormack Lines, being converted into an aircraft carrier, Hampton Roads, VA. From LIFE magazine, 1 September 1941.

Three more photos of Mormacland, of the Moore-McCormack Lines, being converted into an aircraft carrier, Hampton Roads, VA. From LIFE magazine.

HMS Archer (D78) moored off Greenock, Scotland, 18 February 1943. At that time, she was listed as the latest auxiliary carrier, built in America.

Port bow view of HMS Archer (D78) moored off Greenock, Scotland, 18 February 1943.

Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection, by Beadell, S.J. (Lt), Photo No. © IWM (A 14606).

Illustrated London News, 26 June 1943. "A 'Woolworth Carrier': First Details of the New-Type Escort Vessels Which Are Giving Vital Air Cover to Our Convoys in Mid-Atlantic."

Tommy comments: "Woolworth Carrier of the Royal Navy. The escort carrier was designed as a solution to the shortage of naval air power for convoy protection. By the end of WW2 Britain had operated 45 escort carriers, in the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian and Pacific oceans: 6 were British built, 39 US built the latter were affectionately known as 'Woolworth' carriers."

Archer-class. From ONI 201, "Warships and Landing Craft of the British Commonwealth," Division of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department, 1 July 1943. Condensed and printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57.

Photos show HMS Archer, HMS Biter and HMS Dasher.

Archer-class. From ONI 201, "Warships and Landing Craft of the British Commonwealth," Division of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department, 1 July 1943. Condensed and printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57.

Charger & Long Island-class . From U.S. Naval Ships & Aircraft (ONI 54-R), condensed and printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57 (Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels). Supplement 4 - 4 August 1943.

Photos show HMS Archer, HMS Biter and USS Charger.

As above. Top photos show USS Charger (BAVG-4/AVG/ACV/CVE-30). Bottom photos show USS Long Island (AVG/AVC/CVE-1).

HMS Archer underway in 1943, with Swordfish of 819 Squadron and Martlets (US Wildcats) of 892 Squadron on deck.

Port quarter view of HMS Archer (D78) anchored at Greenock, Scotland on 18 February 1943.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection by Beadell, S.J. (Lt), Photo No.© IWM(A 14604).

Close-up stern view of HMS Archer (D78) anchored at Greenock, Scotland on 18 February 1943.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection by Beadell, S.J. (Lt), Photo No.© IWM(A 14605).

Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone in SS Mary and John parish churchyard, Oxford, England, UK, for CPO Telegraphist Frederick Timms, of HMS Archer, who died 15 July 1943, aged 42.

Photo taken on 6 August 2016 by Motacilla. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Gerhard comments:

"Here are six archive photos of the Escort Carrier Archer (D78) (US BAVG-1, ex-Mormacland) as the postwar-wise re-built Swedish passenger vessel Anna Salen. The vessel used to also call at Bremerhaven (Columbus Pier) during the late Forties and early Fifties in order to transport Germans and DPs to Australia as immigrants. (The original source of these pictures is, however, not known to me.)"

"The ship was sold to Sven Salen in 1948 and was used as a freighter, but from 1949 on, after having been modified again, she entered the passenger service between Northern Europe and Australia, carrying immigrants to Down Under. In 1955, she was sold to Greece and renamed Tasmania, now carrying Greek immigrants to Australia."

"In 1961 she was sold to the China Union Lines (Taiwan), renamed the Union Reliance and re-built as a freighter again. Unfortunately, she collided in Nov., 1961 with the Norwegian tanker Berean in the Houston Ship Channel off Houston, TX. Vessel was badly damaged and a fire spread, causing further damage. After the fire had finally been extinguished, the owners decided to sell the ship for scrap. The ship was then towed to New Orleans, LA and scrapped locally."