AVENGER

HMS Avenger was a British escort carrier (13,785 tons) built in the United States as the passenger liner Rio Hudson. Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease and later converted to an auxiliary aircraft carrier in March, 1942. While in convoy from North Africa to the Clyde in Scotland, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-155 just west of the Rock of Gibraltar (87 kilometres south of Faro, Portugal).
The Avenger had been taking part in the North Africa landings before sailing for her home port on the Clyde, Scotland. At approximately 0307hrs the Avenger, part of Convoy MKF-1, was hit on the port side causing her bomb magazine to explode and blowing out the centre section of the ship. Enveloped in flames and black smoke, the Avenger sank in less than two minutes after the t orpedo hit. Sixty seven officers, including her captain, Cdr. A. P. Colthurst, and 446 ratings went down with the ship, a total of 514 men. Twelve survivors were picked up by the escorting destroyer HMS Glaisdale.