Dixmude was originally a merchantman launched on 18 December 1940 and purchased by the USN on 20 May 1941. The conversion was carried out by Atlantic Basin Ironworks in NYC. The flight deck was serviced by a single elevator and a single hydraulic catapult. In RN service, Biter participated in convoy protection and the North African landings. She suffered a non-combat fire on 24 August 1944 and was not repaired until the war in Europe was over.
Biter was transferred to France as that country’s first postwar carrier. Despite France’s urgent need for a carrier (Bearn having already been reduced to a plane ferry) Dixmude was used as a cargo transport from 1945-1947. After that, she qualified pilots on surplus USN Dauntless dive bombers and participated in combat in French Indo-China. After decommissioning, Dixmude was used as a barracks ship for the Corps Amphibie (marines) at Toulon until being discarded in June 1966.

Original Author: Jason W. Henson
