Strictly, this isn't a question about USN escort carriers. I am specifically interested here in the 34 Bogue and Ruler class CVEs that were given to the UK. (I have not read David Wragg's book about CVE's in WWII, and based on reviews, the book has no solid information better than Poolman's books and Friedman's and Terzibaschitsch's works.)
1) Number of 40mm mounts: After much comparison of print and web resources, I am coming to the conclusion that the first batch of 11 CVEs (called Bogue class) served the entire war with only four twin 40mm mounts. This was opposite from the first few USN Bogues that were built with four (either 1.1 or twin 40mm) and were later augmented to eight twin 40mms. It seems the final 23 units of the Ruler class had all eight twin 40mms from birth.
Does anybody know for certain that this is not correct about the British units?2) Twin power operated 20mm guns: I've read somewhere that a number of the British CVEs had their single 20mms replaced by twin power operated 20mms. Later I read at
http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/PATROLLER.htm#.XXhwEX97mpo that the twin power operated 20mms were fitted only to the final five ships: Patroller, Puncher, Reaper, Ranee and Thane. I know the Booklet of General Plans for Puncher at HNSA shows single 20mms, but I believe that is because the BGP is a US document, and does not reflect mods made at Burrard's before the RN made the ships operational.
Any opinions?3) Flight deck extension: The Bogue and Prince William class ships appear to have been built with flight decks of 438 ft, and at Burrard's shipyard the RN units were extended to to 492 ft. Or so. I can't find any photo that seems to show an extra 50ft at the after end of RN flight decks. It seems to me that a 50ft extension would overlap the 40mm mounts on the quarterdeck. I see a photo at
http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/Burrard_Drydock.htm that shows "an extension', but it doesn't seem like 40ft to me. The drawings in the Profile Morskie book for HMS Attacker show the same flight deck length as the US ships.
This is a question only for the Bogue/Ruler classes. I read that the Swordfish needed the longer flight deck because it was not compatible with the US-style catapults.
Does anyone know details about the flight deck extension on the RN units?Any help is appreciated.
Rick Heinbaugh