Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

CHATHAM (CVE-32)  /  HMS SLINGER


Contributed by Tommy Trampp



Battle Honours

Okinawa 1945
CLASS - BOGUE
Displacement 7,800 Tons, Dimensions, 495' 8" (oa) x 69' 6" x 26' (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/51 4 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 28 Aircraft.
Machinery, 8,500 SHP; Allis-Chambers, Geared Turbines, 1 screw
Speed, 17.5 Knots, Crew 890.

Fate: Stricken, 12 April 1946 (Navy Dept. Bulletin, 46-845, p. 20). 1947: Sold for commercial service. 1948: Converted to cargo ship, renamed Robin Mowbray (US flag). February 1970: Scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Name
Slinger
NS0303210
54k

In the US Navy, this ship was named Chatham; counties in Georgia and North Carolina, and many cities and towns in the United States, have this name.

The Royal Navy named her Slinger. A "sling" is an instrument for throwing stones that usually consists of a short strap with strings fastened to its ends and is whirled round to discharge its missile by centrifugal force; a slinger is the person (soldier) who uses a sling (NS0303210).

NavSource
Chatham  /  HMS Slinger
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303204
164k

"Somewhere in the Pacific off Seattle, September 1943, carrying out work up and sea trials."

"An inauspicious start — the first aircraft to land on the ship snaps the arrester wire! There is no barrier rigged and the Avenger attempts to recover flying speed as she goes off the bow. Failing to gain enough speed the aircraft ditches. All crew are recovered safely. Unable to recover the Avenger ditches and is overtaken by the ship — the end of the broken arrester wire can clearly be seen. The severed cable whipped across the deck striking an Oerlikon Gunner, Able Seaman Jack Hill, who suffered serious head injuries and an almost severed ear. It is a wonder no other casualties occurred since both catwalks can be seen to be packed with officers and men observing the trials. The event is captured in this sequence of three photos."

The plane is definitely a British Avenger but it is not know what Squadron it belonged to nor where did it come from.

Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303204a
145k
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303204b
138k
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303205
204k

HMS Slinger underway circa October 1943, location unknown.

Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303206
36k

The Corsairs of 1845 Squadron working-up in the Clyde, December 1944.

Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303206a
43k
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303201
70k

HMS Slinger (D26)—ex-USN Chatham (CVE-32)— as seen from one of her aircraft while underway at sea, December 1944, location unknown. Photo by unknown Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museum, Photo No: A 26909.

Robert Hurst
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303207
138k

HMS Slinger and 1845 Squadron depart for Schofields N.S.W., April 1945.

Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303209
86k

HMS Slinger at anchor in Sydney, July 1945, wearing her auxiliary pennant number A452.

Courtesy of David Yates, grandson of Able Seaman Herbert Wilkinson; via Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Chatham / HMS Slinger
NS0303208
137k

HMS Slinger pierside at Sydney, November 1945.

Courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers
Commercial Service
ex-CVE-32
NS0303202
114k

The US-flagged Robin Mowbray, ex-HMS Slinger, unloading cargo in the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, August 1966.

Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
ex-CVE-32
NS0303203
81k

Robin Mowbray, Bremerhaven, Germany, August 1966.

Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus

Read the CHATHAM (CVE-32) / HMS SLINGER (D26 / R313 / A452) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Annual reunions are held in Chester, UK, each June.
Contact Name: John Lawson
Address: none given
Phone: none given
E-mail: John Lawson jpl@lawson.karoo.co.uk

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.

Main
Photo Index
Escort Carrier
Photo Index Page

Comments, Suggestions or Image submissions, E-mail Carrier Information
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster

This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
All pages copyright NavSource Naval History

Last update: 5 August 2018