HMS Atheling (D51) was a Royal Navy Ruler-class escort carrier, originally built in the United States and delivered under the lend-lease agreement during the Second World War. Constructed by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation in Tacoma, Washington, she was launched on 7 September 1942 and commissioned in the US Navy as USS Glacier (AVG-33, later CVE-33) on 12 July 1943. Her design marked her as a large escort carrier with notable specifications: an overall length of 492 feet 3 inches (150.0 meters), a beam of 69 feet 6 inches (21.2 meters), and a draught of 25 feet 6 inches (7.8 meters). She was powered by a steam turbine connected to two boilers, delivering 9,350 brake horsepower, allowing her to reach a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. Following her commissioning, USS Glacier was transferred to the Royal Navy on 31 July 1943, after initial work at the US Navy Yard in Puget Sound and further modifications at the Royal Canadian Navy dockyard in Esquimalt for British operations. She was renamed HMS Atheling on 28 October 1943, and after sailing through the Panama Canal and New York, she arrived at the Clyde in the UK for additional modifications to operate fighter aircraft. HMS Atheling played an active role in ferrying Royal Navy squadrons to the Far East, carrying aircraft such as Fairey Barracudas, Vought Corsairs, and Supermarine Seafires, with notable deployments to Madras and Ceylon in April 1944. She also transported aircraft and personnel from Trincomalee, including Corsairs and Supermarine Seafires, supporting operations in the Indian Ocean theater. From November 1944 into 1945, Atheling was primarily engaged in aircraft ferry duties for British and US fleets. After the war, she served as a troopship before returning to the United States. Her commanding officer from October 1945 to April 1946 was Captain John Inglis. She was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register in early 1947, subsequently sold to the National Bulk Carriers and renamed Roma. The vessel was scrapped in Italy in November 1967. HMS Atheling was part of a class of larger escort carriers designed specifically for escort duties, possessing a maximum aircraft capacity of 24 aircraft, including fighters and anti-submarine planes. Her armament included dual-purpose guns and anti-aircraft weapons, and she featured a flight deck with facilities for aircraft storage, handling, and launching, making her a versatile asset in convoy protection and fleet support during the war.

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