File:"ANNA SALEN". Bremerhaven 24 June 1950 - Melbourne 29 (8400289621).jpg

English: HMS Archer was a Long Island-class escort carrier built by the United States in 1939–1940 and operated by the Royal Navy during World War II. She was built as the cargo ship Mormacland, but was converted to an escort carrier and renamed HMS Archer. Her transmission was a constant cause of problems which led to her being withdrawn from front-line service. She was used as a stores ship and then as an accommodation ship before a refit and subsequent use as a merchant aircraft ferry ship, Empire Lagan.

She was returned to the US Navy, then laid up as Archer before being sold into merchant service and converted to a passenger ship, Anna Salén. She was used to take emigrants to Australia and Canada in the early 1950s. She was sold and renamed Tasmania and after further service as an emigrant ship was converted back to a cargo ship. She was later sold and renamed Union Reliance. She was scrapped after a collision and fire in 1961.

Black and white photograph of the ANNA SALEN titled 'Bremerhaven 24.6.50 Melbourne 29.7.50' with insert photograph presumably of Frank Kolarik, Czech migrant 1950.
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Object no. 00003736 ANMM Collection Gift from Frank Kolarik

The Australian National Maritime Museum will be holding an after-dark lightshow based on stories of migration from 26 January to 17 February 2013. Check the website for more information on 'Waves of Migration', and how you can tell share your migration story.