H.M.S. Dasher was an escort aircraft carrier of the 'Avenger' class, converted from the merchant vessel Rio de Janeiro and completed by the American shipyard of Tietjen and Laird in 1942. She displaced 8,200 tons (8331.6 tonnes), was 468ft (142.6m) long, 66ft (20.1m) in the beam, drew 21ft (6.4m) and carried a crew of 555 men. Her engines were rated at 8500 horsepower and she was capable of 16kts. She mounted three 4inch and fifteen 20mm guns and carried 15 aircraft. She was supplied to the Royal Navy under the 'lend-lease' scheme. She first sailed from Halifax with convoy HX205 arriving in the UK in September 1942. She then took part in operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa, in November 1942. On her return to the UK she underwent repairs and modifications and rejoined the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in February 1943. She sailed for Murmansk with convoy JW53 but, after only two days, was forced to turn back following heavy storm damage to her hull. After further repairs she was preparing to return to active service when, on 27 March 1943, she was lost in the Firth of Clyde following an aviation fuel explosion, sinking in 3 minutes with the loss of 27 officers and 331 ratings of her company.

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