HMS Searcher (D40)

HMS Searcher (D40) was an escort carrier of the Ruler class of the Royal Navy during World War II. Originally built in the United States as a merchant vessel, she was transferred to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease agreement.

Searcher served primarily in escort duties in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. She provided air cover for convoys, protecting them from German U-boats and aircraft. She also participated in operations off the coast of Norway and in the Aegean Sea.

The ship was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 23 September 1943. Her aircraft complement typically consisted of Grumman Wildcat fighters and Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, although the specific types varied depending on the mission.

Following the end of World War II, Searcher was returned to the United States Navy in November 1945. She was subsequently sold into merchant service and renamed Captain Theo. Her subsequent fate is less well-documented, but she continued to operate as a merchant vessel for several years. The exact date and circumstances of her scrapping are not readily available.

The Ruler class of escort carriers were vital in providing air support and anti-submarine warfare capabilities during the Battle of the Atlantic and other crucial naval campaigns of World War II. HMS Searcher, while not involved in major fleet actions, played a significant role in protecting vital supply lines and contributing to the Allied victory.