World Aircraft Carriers List: UK Merchant Aircraft Carriers
Revised 3 July 1998
Version 2.01
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan
World Aircraft Carrier Lists Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/
Empire MacAlpine
class merchant aircraft carriers
Displacement: 12,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 459 x 60 x 24 feet/140 x 18.3 x 7.3 meters
Propulsion: Diesel, 1 shaft, 3,500 bhp, 12.5 knots
Crew: 107
Armor: none
Armament: 1 4 inch, 2 40 mm, 4 20 mm
Aircraft: 4
Concept/Program: Merchant ships (bulk grain carriers) built with
flight decks to serve as bare minumum aircraft carriers as an emergency
measure pending the availablilty of the US-built escort carriers. These
ships operated with
civilian crews, under merchant colors, and carried their regular cargo
while serving as aircraft carriers. Their planes were primarily meant to
attack long-range reconniassance aircraft to prevent tracking of convoys.
They were designated as Merchant Aircraft Carriers (MAC).
Design: Flight deck fitted above the main deck; small island. No
hangar, catapult or other aircraft support facilities. These ships were
built in this configuration, not converted.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Returned to merchant service
immediately following WWII.
Empire MacAlpine
"MH"
Photos:
[Empire MacAlpine].
Built by Burnisland. Laid down 11 Aug 1942, launched 23 Dec 1942,
completed 14 April 1943.
Operated on Atlantic convoys throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar and named Derryname, then
Huntsbrook in 1951, Suva Breeze in 1960, Djatingaleh,
San Ernesto, Pacific Endeavour in 1968. Sold 4/1970 and
subsequently scrapped at Hong Kong.
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Empire MacKendrick
"MO"
Photos:
[Empire MacKendrick].
Built by Burnisland. Laid down ???, launched 29 Sept 1943, completed 12/1943.
Operated on Atlantic convoys througout WWII.
Returned to merchant service postwar and named Granpond,
Condor in 1951, Saltersgate in 1959, Vassil Levsky.
Marooned in the Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal, 6 June 1967 to 5 June 1975
during the Arab-Israeli War. Scrapped at Split starting 6/1975.
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Empire MacAndrew & Empire MacRae
class merchant aircraft carriers
Displacement: 12,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 448 x 60 x 24.5 feet/136.5 x 18.3 x 7.5 meters
Propulsion: Diesel, 1 shaft, 3,300 bhp, 12.5 knots
Crew: 107
Armor: none
Armament: 1 4 inch, 2 40 mm, 4 20 mm
Aircraft: 4
Concept/Program: Further MAC conversions from grain ships, similar
to Empire MacAlpine class. Officially two classes, but nearly
identical. See Empire MacAlpine class for notes.
Empire MacAndrew
"MK"
Photos:
[Empire MacAndrew].
Built by Denny. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion ???, launched 3
May 1943, completed 7/1943.
Served in the Atlantic as a convoy escort.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Derryheen in 1947,
then Cape Grafton in 1951, Patricia in 1964. Sold for
scrapping in China 10/1970.
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Empire MacDermott
"MS"
Photos:
[Empire MacDermott].
Built by Denny. Taken over for conversion ???, laid down ???, launched 24
Jan 1944, completed 3/1944.
Served as an escort in the Atlantic.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named La Cumbre in 1948, then
Parnon in 1959, Starlight in 1969. Became property of the
Chinese government in 1976; further information and fate unknown.
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Empire MacRae
"MU"
Photos:
[Empire MacRae].
Built by Lithgow. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion ???, launched 21
June 1943, completed 9/1943.
Operated as an escort in the Atlantic.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Alpha Zambesi in 1947,
then Tobon in 1954, Despina P. in 1967. Scrapped at Kaohsiung
starting 4/1971.
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Empire MacCallum
"MN"
Photos:
[Empire MacCallum],
[as Doris Clunies postwar].
Built by Lithgow. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion ???, launched 12
Oct 1943, completed 12/1943.
Operated in the North Atlantic throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Doris Clunies in 1947,
Sunrover in 1951, Eudoxia in 1959, then Phorkyss.
Scrapped at Osaka, Japan starting 11/1960.
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Rapana
class merchant aircraft carriers
Displacement: 16,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 481 x 60 x 27.5 feet/146.6 x 18.3 x 8.4 meters
Propulsion: Diesel, 1 shaft, 4,000 bhp, 11.5 knots
Crew: 118
Armor: none
Armament: 1 4 inch, 2 40 mm, 6 20 mm
Aircraft: 4
Concept/Program: Further MAC conversions, this time from tankers.
This conversion was conceived and designed by the shipping company which
owned the ships; the plan was initially rejected by the Navy but later
accepeted. Generally similar to previous MAC conversions.
Rapana
"MV"
Photos:
[Rapana].
Built by Witton-Fijenoord. Laid down ???, launched 3/1935, completed
4/1935. Taken over for conversion ??, converted as Smith's Dock,
conversion completed 7/1943.
Operated as an Atlantic escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Rotula in 1950.
Scrapped at Hong Kong starting 1/1958.
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Amastra
"MD"
Photos:
[Amastra].
Built by Lithgow. Laid down ??, launched 18 Dec 1934, completed 3/1935.
Taken over for conversion ???, converted as Smith's Dock, conversion completed 9/1943.
Operated as an Atlantic escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Idas in 1951.
Sold
27 June 1955 and scrapped at La Spezia.
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Ancylus
"MF"
Photos:
[Ancylus].
Built by Swan Hunter. Laid down ???, launched 9 Oct 1934,
completed 1/1935. Taken over for conversion ???, conversion completed 10/1943.
Operated as an escort in the Atlantic until 9/1944, then as tanker and
aircraft transport.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Imbricaria in 1952.
Sold 4 December 1954 and scrapped at La Spezia.
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Acavus
"MA"
Photos:
[Acavus].
Built by Workman Clark. Laid down ???, launched 24 Nov 1934,
completed 1/1935. Taken over for conversion ???, converted at Falmouth,
conversion completed 10/1943.
Served in the North Atlantic throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Iacara in 1952.
Scrapped at La Seine in 1963.
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Alexia
"MP"
Photos:
[Alexia].
Built by Bremer Vulkan. Laid down ???, launched 20 Dec 1934,
completed 4/1935. Taken over for conversion ???, conversion
completed 12/1943.
Operated in the North Atlantic throughout the war.
Returned to mechant service postwar; named Ianthina in 1951.
Scrapped at Blyth starting 8/1954.
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Miralda
"MW"
Photos:
[Miralda].
Built by Nederlandse Dok. Laid down ???, launched 7/1936, completed 7/1936.
Taken over for conversion ???, conversion completed 1/1944.
Operated as an Atlantic escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Marisa
in 1950. Scrapped at Hong Kong starting in 1960.
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Adula
"MQ"
Photos:
[Adula].
Built by Blythswood. Laid down ???, launched 28 Jan 1937, completed 3/1937.
Taken over for conversion ???, conversion completed 2/1944.
Operated as an escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar. Scrapped at Briton Ferry in 1953.
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Empire MacKay
type merchant aircraft carrier
Displacement: approx. 8,900 tons full load
Dimensions: 479 x 60 x 27 feet/146 x 18.3 x 8.2 meters
Propulsion: Diesel, 1 shaft, 3,300 bhp, 11 knots
Crew: 122
Armor: none
Armament: 1 4 inch, 8 20 mm
Aircraft: 4
Concept/Program: Further MAC conversions from tankers. Officially
4 separate classes, but the ships were essentially identical. Generally
similar to Rapana class.
Empire MacKay
"MH"
Photos:
[Empire MacKay].
Built by Harland & Wolff. Laid down ???, taken over for
conversion ???, launched 17 June 1943, completed 10/1943.
Operated in the North Atlantic throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named British Swordfish.
Scrapped at Rotterdam starting 5/1959.
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Empire MacColl
"MB"
Photos:
[Empire MacColl].
Built by Cammell Laird. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion
????, launched 24 July 1943, completed
11/1943.
Served as an Atlantic escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named British Pilot.
Scrapped at Faslane starting 8/1962.
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Empire MacMahon
"MJ"
Photos:
[Empire MacMahon].
Built by Swan Hunter. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion, launched 2
July 1943, completed 12/1943.
Served as an Atlantic convoy escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named Naninia in 1956.
Scrapped at Hong Kong in 1960.
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Empire MacCabe
"ML"
Photos:
[Empire MacCabe].
Built by Swan Hunter. Laid down ???, taken over for conversion
???, launched 18 May 1943, completed
12/1943.
Served as an Atlantic convoy escort throughout the war.
Returned to merchant service postwar; named British Escort in 1946,
then Easthill Escort in 1959. Scrapped at Hong Kong in 1962.
[Back To Top]
The World Aircraft Carrier Lists
Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@hazegray.org)
Copyright © 1995-2003 by Andrew Toppan
Reproduction, reuse or distribution without permission is prohibited
