HMS Rajah (D10) was originally laid down as USS Prince (CVE-45), an escort carrier constructed by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation in Tacoma, Washington. The vessel was launched on 18 May 1943 after being renamed from McClure and reclassified as CVE-45 in July 1943. She was transferred to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease agreement on 17 October 1943, where she served as HMS Rajah. As an escort carrier, HMS Rajah was designed with notable specifications for her class. She measured approximately 492 feet 3 inches (150.0 meters) in length, with a beam of 69 feet 6 inches (21.2 meters) and a draught of 25 feet 6 inches (7.8 meters). Her propulsion system consisted of two boilers feeding a steam turbine connected to a single shaft, producing 9,350 brake horsepower, capable of propelling her at a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. The ship's complement was around 646 personnel. Her flight deck supported a maximum of 24 aircraft, which could include fighters such as the Grumman Martlet, Vought F4U Corsair, or Hawker Sea Hurricane, as well as anti-submarine aircraft like the Fairey Swordfish or Grumman Avenger. Aircraft facilities included a small combined bridge and flight control, two aircraft lifts measuring 43 by 34 feet, one catapult, and nine arrestor wires, with a hangar space below the flight deck measuring approximately 260 by 62 feet. The armament of HMS Rajah comprised two dual-purpose guns (either 4"/50, 5"/38, or 5"/51 caliber), sixteen 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns in twin mounts, and twenty 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons. She played a role in the Allied war effort during World War II, contributing to convoy protection and anti-submarine operations. After her service, HMS Rajah was returned to the U.S. Navy in December 1946, struck from the Naval Vessel Registry in February 1947, and later sold to commercial interests. She became the merchant ship Drente, later renamed Lambros and Ulysses, until she was scrapped in Taiwan in 1975. Her design and service history exemplify the evolution of escort carriers during WWII, emphasizing increased capacity and versatility in maritime warfare.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.