If they were going to put her in the register for whatever administrative or deceptive reasons, they would need a name. HMS VICTORIOUS wouldn't really work. What else would they call her? Robin was indeed her call sign. The simplest solution would be to use that, but we already had a Robin (call sign "whatever.") So, I can then see "Robins."
But, certainly in the normal manner of things, the name and call sign would be two different things. Appreciate you bringing this up. Previous Message
Ralph,
This thread is muddying the difference between ship's name and radio callsign. They are two different things.
I once served on a ship who's callsign was Loveland (like the city in Colorado, no doubt), but her actual name was USS xxxxxx, which I shall not mention here.
Even your WWI USS Robin minesweeper had a different callsign, although it's not given on Navsource.
Rick Previous Message
There was a USS Robin already on the register. It was a WWI-built minesweeper which remained in service through to the end of WWII:
http://www.navsource.net/archives/11/02003.htm
So, if this CV Robin was indeed entered into the register, the name would have needed to be modified to differentiate it from the minesweeper, since no two ships may officially carry the same name. So, I can see where "Robins" would be used. If they actually did have her on the register it was to be thorough in the deception. During the war, the register would be classified, thus likely a desired target of spys. On the assumption one might have gotten their hands on it, having her on it "would not hurt." So, she'd have a call sign, and "the works." Also, I can see some upset high-ranking US Navy officer with the proper clearance being suspicious, and demanding to know if she was officially on the register. Then being dumbfounded when shown her entry. It is not entirely out of the realm of the plausible.
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