USS Robin

Discussions on all aspects of the United States of America during the Inter-War era and Second World War. Hosted by Carl Schwamberger.
Post Reply
User avatar
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

USS Robin

#1

Post by Andy H » 15 Oct 2006, 01:13

The British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious was loaned to the US fleet after being repaired at Norfolk and served with the US Pacific Fleet from Feb to Aug 1943 as the USS Robin. Neither name shows up in USN reports of the period, only that two carriers, 2 AA light cruisers and 4 DD were a task group for the invasion of New Georgia.

Was the USS Robin fully manned by USN personnel or by RN personnel. If the latter why was the ships name changed?

Regards

Andy H

User avatar
redcoat
Member
Posts: 1361
Joined: 03 Mar 2003, 22:54
Location: Stockport, England

Re: USS Robin

#2

Post by redcoat » 15 Oct 2006, 03:13

Andy H wrote:The British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious was loaned to the US fleet after being repaired at Norfolk and served with the US Pacific Fleet from Feb to Aug 1943 as the USS Robin. Neither name shows up in USN reports of the period, only that two carriers, 2 AA light cruisers and 4 DD were a task group for the invasion of New Georgia.

Was the USS Robin fully manned by USN personnel or by RN personnel. If the latter why was the ships name changed?

Regards

Andy H
In truth, the name change was only a ruse to throw off the Japanese, while she operated with the American carrier USS Saratoga in support of the invasion of Munda, New Georgia.
She kept her RN crew. but she carried a mix of 60 USN and FAA piloted Wildcat fighter aircraft, while the USS Saratoga carried the strike element also made up of a mix of USN and FAA (Avenger) aircraft.


more detail
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/Victorious.html


User avatar
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

#3

Post by Andy H » 15 Oct 2006, 03:48

Hi Redcoat

Thanks for the link, but was the point of the ruse?

Regards

Andy H

maxs75
Member
Posts: 239
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 17:54
Location: Italy

#4

Post by maxs75 » 15 Oct 2006, 12:53

Andy,
Victorious was NOT renamed Robin. It was something like a radio callsign.
USN already had a Robin (a tug, ex minesweeper) in that period. http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/02003.htm
Please read:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=72717

HTH
Max

User avatar
Andy H
Forum Staff
Posts: 15326
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:51
Location: UK and USA

#5

Post by Andy H » 15 Oct 2006, 18:10

Thanks Max, guess I should have searched more widely :oops:

Regards

Andy H

maxs75
Member
Posts: 239
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 17:54
Location: Italy

#6

Post by maxs75 » 15 Oct 2006, 22:16

Don't worry, also uboat.net IIRC says that she was renamed...
Max

HMan
Member
Posts: 75
Joined: 11 Nov 2008, 22:33

Re:

#7

Post by HMan » 21 Jul 2016, 02:15

Andy H wrote:Hi Redcoat

Thanks for the link, but was the point of the ruse?

Regards

Andy H
Presumably to make the Allies look stronger.
If the Japanese had known there was only
one Allied carrier in the PTO, they may
have thrown more forces against the
New Georgia landings, or made raids
elsewhere.

Here is another article on it:

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/uss-robi ... -exist.htm

Post Reply

Return to “USA 1919-1945”