HMS Puncher (D79) was a British Ruler class escort carrier during World War II, originally laid down as the USS Willapa (AVG-53/ACV-53/CVE-53) in the United States. Constructed by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, the vessel was laid down on 21 May 1943 and launched on 8 November 1943. She was completed and transferred to the UK under Lend-Lease on 5 February 1944, where she was commissioned as HMS Puncher. The ship was reclassified as CVE-53 on 10 June 1943. HMS Puncher measured approximately 492 feet 3 inches (150 meters) in length with a beam of 69 feet 6 inches (21.2 meters) at the waterline and a total beam of 108 feet 6 inches (33.07 meters). She had a standard displacement of around 11,400 long tons and a deep load displacement of about 15,390 long tons. Propulsion was provided by a single shaft driven by an Allis-Chalmers geared steam turbine, powered by two Foster Wheeler boilers, rated at 8,500 shaft horsepower, enabling a maximum speed of 18 knots. Her fuel capacity allowed a range of approximately 27,500 nautical miles at 11 knots. The flight deck was 450 feet long and 80 feet wide, equipped with an H4C hydraulic catapult capable of launching aircraft weighing up to 16,000 pounds at 74 knots. The ship could accommodate up to 24 aircraft, including fighters and anti-submarine aircraft, with a hangar below the deck measuring roughly 260 by 62 by 18 feet. She was armed with two 5-inch guns, eight twin 40 mm Bofors, and numerous Oerlikon cannons, and retained U.S. radar systems. During her service in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters, Puncher primarily served as an aircraft transport and participated in ferry missions, delivering aircraft and supplies. She also supported operations along the Norwegian coast, including strikes against German-occupied territories and providing fighter cover for minesweeping and minelaying missions. Notably, after the German surrender, she was used to repatriate Canadian soldiers. Following the war, she was decommissioned in 1946, returned to American custody, and eventually sold into mercantile service, undergoing multiple name changes before being broken up in 1973. Her operational history highlights her role in ferrying aircraft and supporting Allied operations during the final stages of WWII.

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