"Launching Rio Parana, Chester, Pa., December 18, 1940. This cover was mailed from Chester Pa. to you at the moment the Rio Parana was launched. Moore-McCormack Lines, 5 Broadway, New York, N.Y."

A Biter is a person or animal that bites, especially if in a habitual or vicious way. The design features a shark, well known for its biting, and the trident, a three-pronged spear serving in classical mythology as the attribute of a sea god. (Image courtesy of Tommy Trampp.)

HMS Biter (ex-BAVG 3), June 1942.

Division of Naval Intelligence, Identification and Characteristics Section, June 1943.

HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) in the North Sea in heavy weather in September 1942. Biter, leading, has been fitted with an island. Both ships are pitching and rolling, as evidenced by their pitching flight decks and bow waves.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Priest, L.C. (Lt), Photo © IWM (# A 12574).

As seen from HMS Illustrious (87), the escort carriers HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) follow in formation astern, in September 1942.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Priest, L.C. (Lt), Photo © IWM (# A 12576).

Port bow view of HMS Biter (D97) in the North Sea in heavy weather, in September 1942. Hawker Hurricanes range along the flight deck.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Priest, L.C. (Lt), Photo © IWM (# A 12578).

The Royal Navy escort carriers HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) underway in line astern from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38), September 1942. Two Supermarine Seafires of 884 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, can be seen at the far end of the flight deck of Victorious.

Source: Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection by Priest, L.C. (Lt), Photo © IWM (# A 15957).

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 Biter (D97) with an Avenger strike aircraft from HMS Tracker (D24) in the foreground whilst on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic, date unknown (Fleet Air Arm Museum photo).

The Royal Navy escort carriers HMS Biter (D97) and HMS Avenger (D14) underway in line astern from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38). Two Supermarine Seafires of No.884 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, can be seen at the far end of the flight deck of Victorious. Note Fairey Albacore on aft lift. Photo taken by Lt. L.C. Priest, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo No. A. 12577 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Stern view of the escort carrier HMS Biter (D97), showing the stern sponson carrying the after 4" Mark V gun. Note the boot-topping appears to have been applied crudely. Fleet Air Arm Museum photo.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers of the World, 1914 to the Present: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by Roger Chesneau.

HMS Biter (ex-BAVG 3) underway circa 1943, launching Fairey Swordfish ASW aircraft from 811 Naval Air Squadron for patrol. Note the British 4" Mk.V guns below the flight deck overhang, and one of the carrier's 20mm Oerlikon AA guns in a deck-edge tub.

Starboard view, showing the general layout of the class. Biter was generally similar to Archer, but increased sheer replaced the raised forecastle.

Moored at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, May 1943, after a successful operation against German U-Boats (U-203 and U-89 were sunk). Photo taken by Lt S.J. Beadell, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo # A 16879 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Moored at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, May 1943, after a successful operation against German U-Boats (U-203 and U-89 were sunk). Photo taken by Lt S.J. Beadell, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo # A 16880 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

HMS Biter (ex-BAVG 3) in dry dock, Rosyth, Scotland, December 1943.

On November 16th a Swordfish armed with an acoustic torpedo (US code name "Fido"—this device appears to have been called "Oscar" by the Admiralty—) struck the round down and the torpedo was torn from its cradle. The weapon fell into the sea. The close proximity of Biter's propeller was too strong an acoustic target to ignore and the warhead exploded causing damage to the ship's rudder. The full extent of the damage was not to become clear until November 25th when Biter proceeded up the Firth of Clyde to her allotted anchorage at Tail o' the Bank. Approaching the troop ship Queen Elizabeth the captain ordered "Starboard 20"—and nothing happened! Biter continued her forward course straight towards the huge liner. It was only through reversing the engines and being nudged by her attendant tugs that a collision was avoided.

Biter set out from the Clyde the next day to battle her way through heavy seas to the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland to enter dry dock for repairs at Rosyth Naval Dockyard; the work took a month to complete.

This incident was described in some circles as "Biter bitten by Fido".

"HMS Biter Shows Her Teeth: Escort Carrier's Five-Day Battle."

The Illustrated London News, 26 June 1943.

HMS Biter and HMS Tracker were the covering force for convoy OS68/KMS42, bound for Freetown/Gibraltar, 14–24 February 1944.

A Grumman Wildcat fighter of No.811 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, landing on the escort carrier HMS Biter (D97) after a successful action against a German Junkers Ju290A. The German aircraft had been shadowing the convoy which Biter was protecting, 16 February 1944. Photo taken by Lt. L.C. Priest, Royal Navy official photographer. Photo A22241 from the collections of the Imperial War Museum.

"One of two New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Pilots Down a Junkers 290, Action Pictures. 16 February 1944, during An Action in the Atlantic, two Wildcat Fighters of the Escort Carrier HMS Biter Destroyed a Junkers 290, Which Was Shadowing the Convoy Escorted by the Biter. The Pilots, Both From New Zealand, Were Lieut (A) Erik Sven Erikson, RNZNVR, of Waiuku, and Lieut (A) William Clifford Dimes, RNZVR, of Wellington."

"Lieutenant (A) Erik Sven Erikson, RNZNVR, HMS Biter Wildcat fighter pilot after he had helped to destroy the Junkers Ju290."

Photo by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 22244 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museumss. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums under the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

"One of two New Zealand Fleet Air Arm Pilots Down a Junkers 290, Action Pictures. 16 February 1944, during An Action in the Atlantic, two Wildcat Fighters of the Escort Carrier HMS Biter Destroyed a Junkers 290, Which Was Shadowing the Convoy Escorted by the Biter. The Pilots, Both From New Zealand, Were Lieut (A) Erik Sven Erikson, RNZNVR, of Waiuku, and Lieut (A) William Clifford Dimes, RNZVR, of Wellington."

"Lieutenant (A) William Clifford Dimes, RNZNVR, after the action."

Photo by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. This photograph A 22243 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museumss. This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museums under the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

Air view of the escort carrier HMS Biter (D97) from one of her Fairey Swordfish planes just after taking off. Ready on the deck are two Wildcat fighters, and in the distance ships of the convoy, March 1944. Photo taken by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo A22715 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.

Photo probably related to NS030100325, below.

View over the tail of a Fairey Swordfish of HMS Biter (D97) and ships of the convoy she was guarding, March 1944. Image taken by an unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Photo from the Imperial War Museums Collections. Photo # A22716.

Photo probably related to NS030100301, above.

In French service, the ship was named Dixmude in honor of the Fusiliers Marins (French Naval Infantry) who fought the Battle of the Yser or Dixmude (Diksmuide), October 1914.

NS03010333: Deux capitaines de Fusiliers-Marins aux tranchées (Two Marine captains at the Trenches), from Georges Le Bail, La brigade de Jean le Gouin:
histoire documentaire et anecdotique des Fusiliers-Marins de Dixmude; d'après des documents originaux et les récits des combattants (Perrin, 1917).

The French escort carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter, ex-US Mercantile Rio Parana). Date and place unknown.

The French escort carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter, ex-US Mercantile Rio Parana). Date and place unknown.

The French escort carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter, ex-US Mercantile Rio Parana) underway. Date and place unknown.

French carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter, D97) as she departs a U.S. port for French Indochina with a deck load of F6F-5 Hellcats and SB2C-5 Helldivers. Photo U.S. Navy.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers, by Norman Polmar.

French Aéronavale SBD-5 Dauntlesses from the escort carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter) over Indochina in 1947. These aircraft operated from both shore bases and from carriers, had a major role in the Indochinese campaigns which followed. French Navy photo.

Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers, by Norman Polmar.

The French escort carrier Dixmude at anchor, circa 1950. Location unknown.

The French escort carrier Dixmude, ex-HMS Biter, ex-US BAVG-3, circa 1950. Location unknown.

Aerial of French aircraft carrier Dixmude, at an altitude of 400', 3/4th stern view of port side, 7 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412911.

Aerial of French aircraft carrier Dixmude, at an altitude of 400', 3/4th bow view of port side, 7 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412916.

Aerial of French aircraft carrier Dixmude, at an altitude of 400', 3/4th stern view of starboard side, 7 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412917.

Vice Admiral Felix B. Stump inspects personnel of French aircraft carrier Dixmude at Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia, 8 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412918.

Former US Navy F6F Hellcat planes, now part of the military air to Western Europe program, being loaded aboard the French aircraft carrier Dixmude at the Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia, 8 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412920.

View aboard French aircraft carrier Dixmude at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Shown are French Marines in front of F6F Hellcats, 8 March 1950.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-412921.

"On board the French aircraft carrier Dixmude at the Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia. The ship is being supplied with US Navy aircraft under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Group of French sailors in front of one of the USN airplanes, March 1950."

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-707630.

"DECKLOAD of MDAP planes for French forces in the Far East leaves San Francisco on board carrier Dixmude, herself a Lend-Lease ship of World War II."

U.S. Navy All Hands magazine, April 1952 issue, p. 2.

The French escort carrier Dixmude (ex-HMS Biter, ex-US Mercantile Rio Parana) at New Orleans in June 1953 with SB2C Helldivers aboard, her SA radar clearly visible at the masthead.

Arrival of the aircraft carrier Dixmude (Ex-HMS Biter), then commanded by Captain Pierre Daussy, at Bayonne, New Jersey, 5 May 1956, to take on a load of Piasecki/Vertol H-21B Work Horse (so-called "flying bananas") helicopters.

U.S. Navy photographer unknown. Official U.S. Navy Photo: U.S. Naval Supply; Research and Development Facility; Bureau of Supplies & Accounts; N.S.D. Bayonne, N.J.; Negative No. 1183-2. Copie des archives du Contre-Amiral Pierre Daussy.

Landing of a Piasecki/Vertol H-21B Work Horse helicopter on the flight deck of French aircraft transport Dixmude, then commanded by Captain Pierre Daussy, at Bayonne, NJ, 7 May 1956.

U.S. Navy photographer unknown. Official U.S. Navy Photo: U.S. Naval Supply; Research and Development Facility; Bureau of Supplies & Accounts; N.S.D. Bayonne, N.J.; Negative No. 1184-3. Copie des archives du Contre-Amiral Pierre Daussy.