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class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Conversion programme</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Conversion_programme-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Civilian_status" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Civilian_status"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Civilian status</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Civilian_status-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ship_details" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ship_details"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Ship details</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ship_details-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cargo_arrangements" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cargo_arrangements"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Cargo arrangements</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cargo_arrangements-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Aviation_arrangements" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Aviation_arrangements"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Aviation arrangements</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Aviation_arrangements-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Aviation arrangements subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Aviation_arrangements-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Aircraft" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Aircraft"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Aircraft</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Aircraft-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-MAC_ship_crews" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#MAC_ship_crews"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>MAC ship crews</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-MAC_ship_crews-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle MAC ship crews subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-MAC_ship_crews-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Air_party" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Air_party"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Air party</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Air_party-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Operational_effectiveness" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Operational_effectiveness"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Operational effectiveness</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Operational_effectiveness-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-MAC_Ships" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#MAC_Ships"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>MAC Ships</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-MAC_Ships-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle MAC Ships subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-MAC_Ships-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-New-build_grain_carriers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#New-build_grain_carriers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.1</span> <span>New-build grain carriers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-New-build_grain_carriers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-New-build_oil_tankers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#New-build_oil_tankers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.2</span> <span>New-build oil tankers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-New-build_oil_tankers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-'Triple_Twelve'_oil_tankers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#'Triple_Twelve'_oil_tankers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.3</span> <span>'Triple Twelve' oil tankers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-'Triple_Twelve'_oil_tankers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" 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Available in 12 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-12" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">12 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%BB%D1%91%D0%B2%D1%8B_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%96%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%86" title="Гандлёвы авіяносец – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Гандлёвы авіяносец" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%87" title="Спомагателен самолетоносач – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Спомагателен самолетоносач" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC-Schiff" title="MAC-Schiff – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="MAC-Schiff" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88_%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1_%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C" title="ناو هواپیمابر تجاری – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="ناو هواپیمابر تجاری" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_Aircraft_Carrier" title="Merchant Aircraft Carrier – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Merchant Aircraft Carrier" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prekinis_l%C4%97ktuvne%C5%A1is" title="Prekinis lėktuvnešis – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Prekinis lėktuvnešis" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC%E3%82%B7%E3%83%83%E3%83%97" title="MACシップ – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="MACシップ" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_aircraft_carrier" title="Merchant aircraft carrier – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Merchant aircraft carrier" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%86" title="Торговый авианосец – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Торговый авианосец" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trgovska_letalonosilka" title="Trgovska letalonosilka – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Trgovska letalonosilka" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%86%D1%8C" title="Торговий авіаносець – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Торговий авіаносець" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" 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searchaux" style="display:none">British and Dutch civilian limited-purpose aircraft carriers used in WWII</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Mv_rapana.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Mv_rapana.jpg/220px-Mv_rapana.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="159" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Mv_rapana.jpg/330px-Mv_rapana.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Mv_rapana.jpg/440px-Mv_rapana.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="578" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/MV_Rapana" title="MV Rapana">MV <i>Rapana</i></a>, an oil tanker converted into a merchant aircraft carrier (MAC). MACs were introduced to provide air cover for convoys until sufficient <a href="/wiki/Escort_carrier" title="Escort carrier">escort carriers</a> became available to replace them.</figcaption></figure> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output 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Caribbean">Caribbean</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_St._Lawrence" title="Battle of the St. Lawrence">St. Lawrence</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Barrage" title="Northern Barrage">Northern Barrage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blockade_of_Germany_(1939%E2%80%931945)" title="Blockade of Germany (1939–1945)">Blockade of Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Military_history_of_Gibraltar_during_World_War_II" title="Military history of Gibraltar during World War II">Gibraltar</a><hr /></li></ul> <p><b>1939</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_River_Plate" title="Battle of the River Plate">River Plate</a></li></ul> <p><b>1940</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_47" title="Convoy HX 47">HX 47</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_49" title="Convoy HX 49">HX 49</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First_Happy_Time" title="First Happy Time">1st Happy Time</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_65" title="Convoy HX 65">HX 65</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_2" title="Convoy SC 2">SC 2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_72" title="Convoy HX 72">HX 72</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_7" title="Convoy SC 7">SC 7</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_79" title="Convoy HX 79">HX 79</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_84" title="Convoy HX 84">HX 84</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Nordseetour" title="Operation Nordseetour"><i>Nordseetour</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_90" title="Convoy HX 90">HX 90</a></li></ul> <p><b>1941</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_19" title="Convoy SC 19">SC 19</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_20" title="Convoy SC 20">SC 20</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Berlin_(Atlantic)" title="Operation Berlin (Atlantic)"><i>Berlin</i></a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_106" title="Convoy HX 106">HX 106</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HG_53" title="Convoy HG 53">HG 53</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_OB_293" title="Convoy OB 293">OB 293</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_112" title="Convoy HX 112">HX 112</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Action_of_4_April_1941" title="Action of 4 April 1941">4 April</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_OB_318" title="Convoy OB 318">OB 318</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_126" title="Convoy HX 126">HX 126</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Rhein%C3%BCbung" title="Operation Rheinübung"><i>Rheinübung</i></a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_Denmark_Strait" title="Battle of the Denmark Strait">Denmark Strait</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Last_battle_of_Bismarck" title="Last battle of Bismarck"><i>Bismarck</i></a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_133" title="Convoy HX 133">HX 133</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_OG_69" title="Convoy OG 69">OG 69</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_OG_71" title="Convoy OG 71">OG 71</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_42" title="Convoy SC 42">SC 42</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HG_73" title="Convoy HG 73">HG 73</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_48" title="Convoy SC 48">SC 48</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_156" title="Convoy HX 156">HX 156</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HG_76" title="Convoy HG 76">HG 76</a></li></ul> <p><b>1942</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Postmaster" title="Operation Postmaster"><i>Postmaster</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second_Happy_Time" title="Second Happy Time">2nd Happy Time</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Torpedo_Alley" title="Torpedo Alley">Torpedo Alley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_67" title="Convoy SC 67">SC 67</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Neuland" title="Operation Neuland"><i>Neuland</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ON_67" class="mw-redirect" title="ON 67">ON 67</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Action_of_27_March_1942" title="Action of 27 March 1942">27 March</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_OG_82" title="Convoy OG 82">OG 82</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SS_Connecticut_(1938)" title="SS Connecticut (1938)"><i>Connecticut</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_92" title="Convoy ON 92">ON 92</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Action_of_6_June_1942" title="Action of 6 June 1942">6 June</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HG_84" title="Convoy HG 84">HG 84</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SL_78" title="Convoy SL 78">SL 78</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_QS-15" title="Convoy QS-15">QS 15</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_113" title="Convoy ON 113">ON 113</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_115" title="Convoy ON 115">ON 115</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_94" title="Convoy SC 94">SC 94</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_122" title="Convoy ON 122">ON 122</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Bell_Island" title="Battle of Bell Island">Bell Island</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_QS-33" title="Convoy QS-33">QS 33</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_127" title="Convoy ON 127">ON 127</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laconia_incident" title="Laconia incident"><i>Laconia</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SQ-36" title="Convoy SQ-36">SQ 36</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_100" title="Convoy SC 100">SC 100</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SS_Stephen_Hopkins#Action_of_27_September_1942" title="SS Stephen Hopkins">27 September</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoys_SG-6/LN-6" title="Convoys SG-6/LN-6">SG 6/LN 6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_104" title="Convoy SC 104">SC 104</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_212" title="Convoy HX 212">HX 212</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SL_125" title="Convoy SL 125">SL 125</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_107" title="Convoy SC 107">SC 107</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_144" title="Convoy ON 144">ON 144</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_153" title="Convoy ON 153">ON 153</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_154" title="Convoy ON 154">ON 154</a></li></ul> <p><b>1943</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_TM_1" title="Convoy TM 1">TM 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SS_Dorchester#Loss" title="SS Dorchester">SG 19</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_118" title="Convoy SC 118">SC 118</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_166" title="Convoy ON 166">ON 166</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CU_convoys" title="CU convoys">UC 1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_121" title="Convoy SC 121">SC 121</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_228" title="Convoy HX 228">HX 228</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UG_convoys" title="UG convoys">UGS 6</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoys_HX_229/SC_122" title="Convoys HX 229/SC 122">HX 229/SC 122</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_231" title="Convoy HX 231">HX 231</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Black_May_(1943)" title="Black May (1943)">Black May</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ONS_5" title="Convoy ONS 5">ONS 5</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_237" title="Convoy HX 237">HX 237</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_129" title="Convoy SC 129">SC 129</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_130" title="Convoy SC 130">SC 130</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_Faith" title="Convoy Faith">Faith</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoys_ONS_18/ON_202" title="Convoys ONS 18/ON 202">ONS 18/ON 202</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SC_143" title="Convoy SC 143">SC 143</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoys_ONS_20/ON_206" title="Convoys ONS 20/ON 206">ONS 20/ON 206</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Sept-%C3%8Eles" title="Battle of Sept-Îles">Sept-Îles</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_ON_207" title="Convoy ON 207">ON 207</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SL_138/MKS_28" title="Convoy SL 138/MKS 28">SL 138/MKS 28</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SL_139/MKS_30" title="Convoy SL 139/MKS 30">SL 139/MKS 30</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_SL_140/MKS_31" title="Convoy SL 140/MKS 31">SL 140/MKS 31</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Stonewall" title="Operation Stonewall"><i>Stonewall</i></a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bay_of_Biscay" title="Battle of the Bay of Biscay">Bay of Biscay</a></li></ul></li></ul> <p><b>1944</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Exercise_Tiger" title="Exercise Tiger">Lyme Bay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Action_of_26_April_1944" title="Action of 26 April 1944">26 April 1944</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/German_submarine_U-505#Twelfth_patrol_and_capture" title="German submarine U-505">Capture of <i>U-505</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convoy_HX_300" title="Convoy HX 300">HX 300</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SS_L%C3%A9opoldville_(1929)#Sinking" class="mw-redirect" title="SS Léopoldville (1929)">WEP 3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/BX_convoys" title="BX convoys">BX 141</a></li></ul> <p><b>1945</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Operation_Teardrop" title="Operation Teardrop"><i>Teardrop</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battle_of_Point_Judith" title="Battle of Point Judith">Point Judith</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Actions_of_5%E2%80%936_May_1945" title="Actions of 5–6 May 1945">5–6 May 1945</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Actions_of_7%E2%80%938_May_1945" title="Actions of 7–8 May 1945">7–8 May 1945</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>A <b>merchant aircraft carrier</b> (also known as a <b>MAC ship</b>, the <a href="/wiki/Admiralty_(United_Kingdom)" title="Admiralty (United Kingdom)">Admiralty</a>'s official 'short name')<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> was a limited-purpose aircraft carrier operated under British and Dutch civilian registry during <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>. MAC ships were adapted by adding a flight deck to a bulk grain ship or oil tanker enabling it to operate anti-submarine aircraft in support of <a href="/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II" title="Allies of World War II">Allied</a> convoys during the <a href="/wiki/Battle_of_the_Atlantic" title="Battle of the Atlantic">Battle of the Atlantic</a>. </p><p>Despite their <a href="/wiki/Quasi-military" class="mw-redirect" title="Quasi-military">quasi-military</a> function, MAC ships retained their mercantile status, continued to carry cargo and operated under civilian command. MAC ships entered service from May 1943 when they began to supplement and supplant <a href="/wiki/Escort_carriers" class="mw-redirect" title="Escort carriers">escort carriers</a>, and remained operational until the end of the war in Europe. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Development">Development</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Development"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1940, Captain M. S. Slattery RN, Director of Air Material at the <a href="/wiki/Admiralty_(United_Kingdom)" title="Admiralty (United Kingdom)">Admiralty</a>, proposed a scheme for converting merchant ships into <a href="/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">aircraft carriers</a> as a follow-up to the <a href="/wiki/CAM_ship" title="CAM ship">CAM ship</a> project.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-friedman_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-friedman-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Slattery proposed fitting a <a href="/wiki/Flight_deck" title="Flight deck">flight deck</a> equipped with two <a href="/w/index.php?title=Arrester_wire&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Arrester wire (page does not exist)">arrester wires</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Safety_barrier" title="Safety barrier">safety barrier</a> onto an existing merchant ship hull. The resulting 'auxiliary fighter carrier' would be capable of operating six <a href="/wiki/Hawker_Hurricane" title="Hawker Hurricane">Hurricane</a> fighters while retaining its cargo-carrying ability. The stumbling block for Slattery's proposal turned out to be objections from the <a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_Supply" title="Ministry of Supply">Ministry of Supply</a> that combining the merchant and aircraft carrier roles would be too complicated.<sup id="cite_ref-friedman_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-friedman-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While this would turn out to be over-stated, it seems to have had the effect of diverting attention from the idea of hybrid merchant-warships towards the alternative of converting merchant ships into fully-fledged warships designated 'auxiliary aircraft carriers', the first of which, converted from the captured German cargo ship <i>Hannover</i>, entered service as <i>Empire Audacity</i> (later <a href="/wiki/HMS_Audacity" title="HMS Audacity">HMS <i>Audacity</i></a>) in June 1941.<sup id="cite_ref-friedman_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-friedman-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-roskill1_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-roskill1-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The hybrid concept re-emerged early in 1942 when, in the face of mounting losses from <a href="/wiki/U-boat" title="U-boat">U-boat</a> attacks, it became apparent that <a href="/wiki/Escort_carrier" title="Escort carrier">escort carriers</a> building in the US could not be delivered quickly enough in the numbers required.<sup id="cite_ref-DBNAII_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DBNAII-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Various people have been credited with re-inventing the idea, including Captain B. B. Schofield RN, Director Trade Division, and John Lamb, Marine Technical Manager of the <a href="/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_Petroleum_Company" class="mw-redirect" title="Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company">Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-poolman_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-poolman-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Sir_James_Lithgow" class="mw-redirect" title="Sir James Lithgow">Sir James Lithgow</a>, Controller of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repair and joint-owner of <a href="/wiki/Lithgows" title="Lithgows">Lithgows</a> Ltd, the Clyde-based shipbuilders, also helped overcome Admiralty reservations about MAC ships. Lithgow is said to have sketched a rough design for one on the back of an envelope and offered to convert two ships about to be built at his family's shipyard on condition that "I am not interfered with by the Admiralty".<sup id="cite_ref-wragg_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-wragg-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While the timing of Lithgow's possibly apocryphal intervention is uncertain, his deputy, Sir Amos Ayre, the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding, was certainly discussing the requirements for MAC ships by May 1942.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Ayre himself credits <a href="/wiki/Sir_Douglas_Thomson" class="mw-redirect" title="Sir Douglas Thomson">Sir Douglas Thomson</a> of <a href="/wiki/Ben_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Ben Line">Ben Line</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_War_Transport" title="Ministry of War Transport">Ministry of War Transport</a> with having first suggested the idea.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>There was some initial resistance to the MAC ship concept, in particular through concerns about operating aircraft from short, relatively slow ships. The Admiralty considered that a flight deck length of 460 feet (140 m) was needed for safe take-offs and landings and a speed of 15 <a href="/wiki/Knot_(unit)" title="Knot (unit)">knots</a> (28 km/h; 17 mph). to provide a sufficient margin over convoy speeds and they were especially doubtful that tankers, with their low freeboards and volatile cargoes, could be utilised.<sup id="cite_ref-friedman_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-friedman-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As the U-boat situation worsened, however, such concerns were out-weighed by the urgent need to provide convoy air support, and once it was accepted that the grain ship variant at least could be made to work, the Admiralty became more enthusiastic about the project. </p><p>By September 1942, the Admiralty was asking for "about 50" MAC ships to be made available, to allow one to be included in every North Atlantic convoy and in October the requirement was set at 52.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This ambitious target had been scaled back to 40 by the time the MAC ship project was formally endorsed by the <a href="/wiki/War_Cabinet" class="mw-redirect" title="War Cabinet">War Cabinet</a> in October 1942, but it was apparent that even this reduced number could not be produced sufficiently quickly without American help.<sup id="cite_ref-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The US was therefore asked to begin construction of 30 MAC ships to be delivered during the first half of 1943, but a <a href="/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy" title="United States Department of the Navy">Navy Department</a> committee specially formed to consider the request turned it down because of concerns about the experimental nature of the ships.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the event, all the MAC ships were built and/or converted in British shipyards. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Conversion_programme">Conversion programme</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Conversion programme"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The first two MAC ships were ordered in June 1942 from the <a href="/wiki/Burntisland_Shipbuilding_Company" title="Burntisland Shipbuilding Company">Burntisland Shipbuilding Company</a> on the Firth of Forth and <a href="/wiki/William_Denny_%26_Brothers" class="mw-redirect" title="William Denny & Brothers">William Denny & Brothers</a> of Dumbarton. These ships, which were not strictly conversions but brand-new grain ships that had not yet been laid down, would eventually enter service as <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacAlpine" title="MV Empire MacAlpine"><i>Empire MacAlpine</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacAndrew" title="MV Empire MacAndrew"><i>Empire MacAndrew</i></a> respectively.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <i>Empire MacAlpine</i> was launched on 23 December 1942 and completed more-or-less on schedule on 21 April 1943. Five more new-build grain ships, <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacAndrew" title="MV Empire MacAndrew"><i>Empire MacAndrew</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacRae" title="MV Empire MacRae"><i>Empire MacRae</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacCallum" title="MV Empire MacCallum"><i>Empire MacCallum</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacKendrick" title="MV Empire MacKendrick"><i>Empire MacKendrick</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacDermott" title="MV Empire MacDermott"><i>Empire MacDermott</i></a> followed at approximately two-month intervals, with <i>Empire MacDermott</i> entering service in March 1944. </p><p>By late September 1942 it was finally agreed that <a href="/wiki/Tanker_(ship)" title="Tanker (ship)">tanker</a>-MAC ships could be operated safely subject to various limitations about the cargoes they would be allowed to carry. Four new-build tankers were scheduled for conversion but work on these did not start until May 1943. <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacKay" title="MV Empire MacKay"><i>Empire MacKay</i></a> entered service in October 1943, followed at intervals by <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacCabe" title="MV Empire MacCabe"><i>Empire MacCabe</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacMahon" title="MV Empire MacMahon"><i>Empire MacMahon</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacColl" title="MV Empire MacColl"><i>Empire MacColl</i></a> in November 1943. Additional hulls were still needed, however, and it was decided that existing tankers would have to be withdrawn from trade. The most efficient way to approach the task of converting these was to select ships of similar design and, at the beginning of 1943, the <a href="/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_Petroleum_Company" class="mw-redirect" title="Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company">Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company</a>, which had actively promoted the MAC ship concept, offered up its entire fleet of British-registered 'Triple Twelve' tankers (sometimes referred to as the <a href="/wiki/MV_Rapana" title="MV Rapana"><i>Rapana</i></a> class) for government <a href="/wiki/Chartering_(shipping)" title="Chartering (shipping)">charter</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-howarth_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-howarth-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The desirability of converting foreign-owned tankers was also considered and in January 1943 the Ministry of War Transport asked the <a href="/wiki/Norwegian_government-in-exile" class="mw-redirect" title="Norwegian government-in-exile">Norwegian government-in-exile</a> if the modern Norwegian tanker <a href="/w/index.php?title=B.P._Newton&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="B.P. Newton (page does not exist)"><i>B.P. Newton</i></a> could be converted to a MAC ship under British command. The initial response was not helpful with Norway insisting on financial arrangements that <a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_War_Transport" title="Ministry of War Transport">War Transport</a> officials described as "wholly unreasonable as between allies", but although these were later ameliorated, the proposal eventually foundered because the design effort was judged too much for what would have been a one-off conversion.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At about the same time however, a further three tankers of the same class as the Anglo-Saxon 'Triple Twelves' were identified operating under Dutch registry (Anglo-Saxon Petroleum was a subsidiary of <a href="/wiki/Royal_Dutch_Shell" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Dutch Shell">Royal Dutch Shell</a>). The Netherlands authorities approved the British request but on condition that the ships, as MAC ships, would fly the Dutch flag and be under Dutch civilian command to which the Admiralty, citing potential language difficulties, only reluctantly agreed.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the event, only two of the Dutch ships were taken up as MAC ships but these, <a href="/wiki/MV_Gadila" title="MV Gadila"><i>Gadila</i></a> and <a href="/wiki/MV_Macoma" title="MV Macoma"><i>Macoma</i></a>, crewed entirely by Dutch merchant seamen and with aircraft flights drawn from the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy" title="Royal Netherlands Navy">Royal Netherlands Navy</a>-manned <a href="/wiki/860_Naval_Air_Squadron" title="860 Naval Air Squadron">860 Naval Air Squadron</a> would have the distinction of becoming the Netherlands' first aircraft carriers.<sup id="cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mitchell_and_Sawyer-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Civilian_status">Civilian status</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Civilian status"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Despite their military appearance and combatant function, MAC ships were civilian ships that did not appear in the <i><a href="/wiki/Navy_List" class="mw-redirect" title="Navy List">Navy List</a></i> nor were they commanded by commissioned officers: this unusual status is one of their defining characteristics. The hybrid nature of the MAC ships raised from the outset the question of whether they would be commissioned warships like the new <a href="/wiki/Escort_carrier" title="Escort carrier">escort carriers</a>, or if they would operate as merchant ships under the <a href="/wiki/Red_Ensign" title="Red Ensign">Red Ensign</a> like the earlier <a href="/wiki/CAM_ship" title="CAM ship">CAM ships</a>. The Admiralty's preference was to operate them as regular warships but it soon became clear that there were not enough personnel available to man them to naval standards without causing serious shortfalls in other areas, in particular the large numbers of escort carriers that would soon arrive.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Admiralty and Ministry of War Transport therefore agreed that the MAC ships would be civilian-manned. Serious reservations about the proposed civilian status were raised, however, by <a href="/wiki/Foreign_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="Foreign Office">Foreign Office</a> officials, who were concerned that the ships would be <i>de facto</i> warships under international law but, without the protection afforded by the 1907 <a href="/wiki/Hague_Conventions_of_1899_and_1907" title="Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907">Hague Convention</a> which applied only to members of the armed forces, their civilian crews would be liable to be treated as unlawful combatants, or <i><a href="/wiki/Francs-tireurs" title="Francs-tireurs">francs-tireurs</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The potential for such action had been clearly demonstrated by the execution in 1916 of Captain <a href="/wiki/Charles_Fryatt" title="Charles Fryatt">Charles Fryatt</a>, for attempting to ram a U-boat with his cross-Channel <a href="/wiki/Ferry" title="Ferry">ferry</a>. The risk to MAC ship crews was considered so great that it was explicitly put before the War Cabinet: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>The greater the effect of air action on the U-boat campaign, the more the enemy may be tempted to try to damage the morale of M.A.C. crews by court martialling and shooting any Merchant Service personnel they may capture from such ships.<sup id="cite_ref-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>The War Cabinet ordered a review of the situation but the manning difficulties could not be resolved. The Foreign Office reluctantly agreed that the MAC ships would have to operate under the Red Ensign, provided that the merchant seamen and their unions were made aware of the risks involved, and that every possible precaution would be taken to ensure that the men did not fall into enemy hands.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the event, there is little to suggest that the MAC ships' crews were ever formally notified that they might be at special risk. There is evidence, however, that the authorities remained sensitive about the status of MAC ships which were specifically excluded from the publicity that was arranged for other 'special service' merchant ships, e.g. <a href="/wiki/Convoy_rescue_ship" title="Convoy rescue ship">rescue ships</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As late as September 1944, masters were reminded to point out to their crews the need to maintain secrecy about the MAC ships' operations and functions.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Ship_details">Ship details</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Ship details"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The new-build grain carrier MAC ships were based on the Ministry of War Transport's standard tramp hull which could just accommodate the Admiralty's revised requirement for a flight deck of not less than 390 feet (120 m) length and 62 ft (19 m) breadth. They were eventually built with flight decks of between 413 and 424 ft (126 and 129 m). The standard design used for the new-build tankers enabled a longer flight deck of approximately 460 ft (140 m) with minor variations between individual ships.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An important enhancement was specified for the MAC ships' machinery. A standard diesel tramp engine developed 2,500 <a href="/wiki/Horsepower#Brake_horsepower" title="Horsepower">bhp</a> (1,900 <a href="/wiki/Kilowatt" class="mw-redirect" title="Kilowatt">kW</a>) to give a service speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). but to provide some margin for flying operations, all the new-build MAC ships were fitted with engines rated at 3,300 bhp (2,500 kW) which, in the grain ships, produced a speed of about 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The new-build tankers with their higher displacements were still capable of 11 knots. as were the pre-existing 'Triple Twelves'.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The most obvious modification was the flight deck and its supporting structure which was arranged in sections (three on the grain ships; four in the case of tankers) with expansion joints between each.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The flight deck was built at the level that would normally have been occupied by the wheelhouse and in the 'Triple Twelves' this entailed removal of the existing wheelhouse and the funnel. The space immediately under the flight deck was utilised for the arrester gear mechanisms, four wires to each MAC ship with an additional unit fitted to the tankers to operate the trickle wire and safety barrier.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A small island structure contained the bridge and wheelhouse and, in the tanker MAC ships, a chartroom that could be used as a pilots' briefing room. Less apparent modifications included; accommodation for 107 crew (about 50 more than normal); improved internal subdivision; additional ventilation, including exhaust arrangements that could be adjusted to vent to the leeward side; changes to lifeboat positions; and magazines for the safe stowage of bombs, depth charges, ammunition and pyrotechnics.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There were minor variations between the types. In the grain MAC ships, the armament <a href="/wiki/Sponsons" class="mw-redirect" title="Sponsons">sponsons</a> or '<a href="/w/index.php?title=Zareba_(ship_structure)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Zareba (ship structure) (page does not exist)">zarebas</a>' could not project outboard of the moulded line of the hull which necessitated them encroaching onto the flight deck area so that the ship would not be prevented from using commercial berths, but this constraint did not apply to the tankers whose zarebas were extended outboard of the side. One centre cargo tank in each tanker was adapted for the carriage of aircraft fuel (or '<a href="/wiki/Avgas" title="Avgas">Avgas</a>') but in the grain ships this necessitated a special compartment containing two pressurised fuel tanks, together with a control room and associated piping.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The most significant difference between the grain ship and tanker MAC ships was the provision of hangar space within the grain ships. The three after holds were converted to provide a hangar 142 ft (43 m) long, 38 ft (12 m) wide to a height of 24 ft (7.3 m) in which the ship's full complement of four <a href="/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish" title="Fairey Swordfish">Fairey Swordfish</a> biplane aircraft could be stowed with wings folded.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An elevator platform could lift a fully loaded aircraft from hangar to deck level in less than a minute.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It was impracticable to fit tanker MAC ships with a hangar as this would have entailed very extensive structural alterations and a significant reduction in cargo capacity. Although capable of operating four aircraft, tanker MAC ships normally embarked three, which all had to be kept on deck: parked aircraft had to be moved to the forward end when other aircraft were landing on, and a collapsible safety barrier was fitted to prevent collisions. Hinged side screens or 'palisades' were fitted around the aft end of the flight deck to provide weather protection for parked aircraft but with only limited effect.<sup id="cite_ref-brand_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-brand-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The net result of the modifications was a reduction in cargo capacity of about 10% in the case of the tankers, but almost 30% for the grain ships, the higher figure on account of the space taken up by the hangar.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The modifications themselves were conceptually simple and with standardised designs and extensive use (about 51% by weight of steel) of prefabricated components, the average conversion time was just over five months, but there were significant differences between the average time required to convert new-builds (about 14 weeks) and existing ships (about 27 weeks).<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There were wide variations within groups; the first 'Triple Twelve', <i>Rapana</i>, was converted in five months while the final one, <i>Macoma</i>, took ten months.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Delays arose through a variety of reasons, including labour relations and conflicting priorities in the shipyards, but the supply of arrester gear which was also in high demand for the escort carrier programme was a particular bottleneck that limited the rate at which MAC ships could be completed.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The 'Triple Twelves' retained their original names, but the new-builds were <a href="/wiki/Empire_ship" title="Empire ship">given the prefix "Empire"</a> in accordance with the policy for ships owned by the <a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_War_Transport" title="Ministry of War Transport">Ministry of War Transport</a> and names that began with "Mac-", in a reference to their designation as MAC ships. <a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacKendrick" title="MV Empire MacKendrick"><i>Empire MacKendrick</i></a> which was originally to have been named <i>Empire MacKenzie</i> had the unusual distinction of being renamed while still under construction in tribute to <a href="/wiki/HMS_Audacity" title="HMS Audacity">HMS <i>Audacity</i></a>, whose captain, Commander D. W. McKendrick RN, had been killed when she was sunk on convoy escort duty in 1941.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Eventually, to avoid confusion with ordinary merchant ships, the Admiralty formally directed that MAC ships should be designated 'MAC Ship' in all correspondence.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cargo_arrangements">Cargo arrangements</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Cargo arrangements"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Although the most distinctive feature of MACs is their aircraft carrier function, they were conceived at a time when a shortage of shipping capacity threatened to undermine the Allied invasion of North Africa and beyond, and careful planning was needed to maximise their military effectiveness with as little detriment as possible to the carriage of cargo.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In their trading role, MACs operated under the aegis of the Ministry of War Transport, with day-to-day management falling to their owners or allotted shipping companies, while control of military aspects fell to the Admiralty, with a new section (the Trade Division <a href="/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship" title="Defensively equipped merchant ship">DEMS</a> Air Section) specially set up to act as co-ordinating authority.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The MAC ships operated on the North Atlantic route primarily in support of the <a href="/wiki/ON_convoys" class="mw-redirect" title="ON convoys">'ON'</a> and <a href="/wiki/HX_convoys" title="HX convoys">'HX'</a> series of convoys. An alternative plan to operate tanker MACs with <a href="/wiki/CU_convoys" title="CU convoys">CU convoys</a> between the United Kingdom and Curaçao was rejected because convoys on that route were too fast.<sup id="cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tankers on the North Atlantic route ordinarily loaded at <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a>, but this was undesirable for the MACs because it would have been militarily wasteful to run them between the ON/HX landfall port of <a href="/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia" title="Halifax, Nova Scotia">Halifax, Nova Scotia</a> and New York, where convoys were already under the umbrella of land-based aircraft. An 'oil pool' was therefore established at Halifax specifically to enable the tanker MACs to load there, while grain MACs were already able to use the port's pre-existing bulk loading facility.<sup id="cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Firth_of_Clyde" title="Firth of Clyde">Firth of Clyde</a> was initially designated as the UK terminus for all MAC cargoes because of its superior aviation training facilities.<sup id="cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On discovering that it would take more than a week to unload a single ship at the un-modernised facility in Glasgow, it was decided that grain MACs would discharge at <a href="/wiki/Alexandra_Dock,_Liverpool" title="Alexandra Dock, Liverpool">Alexandra Dock, Liverpool</a>, where two grain ships could be unloaded simultaneously in thirty-six hours.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tanker MACs normally discharged on the Clyde, with the Mersey as an alternative. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Aviation_arrangements">Aviation arrangements</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Aviation arrangements"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg/250px-Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg" decoding="async" width="250" height="167" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg/375px-Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg/500px-Swordfish_Mk2_LS326_1988.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="2810" data-file-height="1880" /></a><figcaption>Fairey Swordfish at an airshow in 1988. This aircraft was assigned to 'L' Flight of 836 NAS on board the MAC ship <i>Rapana</i> during World War II</figcaption></figure> <p>There were widely differing opinions about the arrangements needed to support the MAC ships' aviation function. The Director of Trade Division, who had overall responsibility for co-ordination within the Admiralty, envisaged forming a new headquarters organisation to oversee MAC ship aviation.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Director of Naval Air Organisation disagreed on the basis that MAC ships were an adjunct to the main escort carrier programme, and said that their aircraft should be provided on an ad hoc basis from the squadrons earmarked for escort carriers, having earlier suggested that there might be few, if any, aircraft and crews available for MAC ships.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, when the escort carrier <a href="/wiki/HMS_Dasher_(D37)" title="HMS Dasher (D37)">HMS <i>Dasher</i></a> exploded and sank in March 1943 it freed up a squadron's-worth of Swordfish aircraft and in June, just after <i>Empire MacAlpine</i> entered service, it was announced that No. <a href="/wiki/836_Naval_Air_Squadron" title="836 Naval Air Squadron">836 Naval Air Squadron</a> (NAS) was to relocate from <a href="/wiki/Machrihanish" title="Machrihanish">Machrihanish</a> to <a href="/wiki/Belfast" title="Belfast">Belfast</a> in <a href="/wiki/Northern_Ireland" title="Northern Ireland">Northern Ireland</a> with nine aircraft as a core for the MAC ships, in addition to providing a common pool for the escort carriers.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Before this could be put into place, it was decided that 836 NAS would move instead to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) <a href="/wiki/RNAS_Maydown" class="mw-redirect" title="RNAS Maydown">Maydown</a>, in <a href="/wiki/County_Londonderry" title="County Londonderry">County Londonderry</a> (later named <a href="/wiki/HMS_Shrike" class="mw-redirect" title="HMS Shrike">HMS <i>Shrike</i></a>) to become the nucleus squadron for MAC ships and that the MAC ship headquarters unit would be formed there.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/840_Naval_Air_Squadron" title="840 Naval Air Squadron">840 Naval Air Squadron</a> operated briefly from <i>Empire MacAndrew</i> until reorganised as M flight of 836 Squadron in August 1943.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Also based at Maydown would be the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy" title="Royal Netherlands Navy">Royal Netherlands Navy</a>-manned No. <a href="/wiki/860_Naval_Air_Squadron" title="860 Naval Air Squadron">860 Naval Air Squadron</a>, responsible for providing aircraft for the two Dutch MAC ships, <i><a href="/wiki/MV_Gadila" title="MV Gadila">Gadila</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/MV_Macoma" title="MV Macoma">Macoma</a></i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Aircraft">Aircraft</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Aircraft"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg/220px-Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="178" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg/330px-Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg/440px-Deck_of_MV_Empire_Mackay.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1337" data-file-height="1084" /></a><figcaption>Fairey Swordfish landing on the deck of the <i>Empire MacKay</i> in the North Atlantic in 1944</figcaption></figure> <p>The only aircraft types to be flown operationally from MAC ships were the <a href="/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish" title="Fairey Swordfish">Fairey Swordfish</a> Mks. II and III. The flight deck was only 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m) wider than the Swordfish wing span, and a Swordfish fully loaded with <a href="/wiki/RP-3#Anti-submarine" title="RP-3">RP-3 rockets</a> and <a href="/wiki/Depth_charge" title="Depth charge">depth charges</a> might require <a href="/wiki/JATO" title="JATO">rocket-assisted take-off gear (RATOG)</a> to launch in unfavourable wind conditions.<sup id="cite_ref-aps_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-aps-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The normal complement of aircraft was four on grain ships and three on tankers. The tankers were, however, capable of routinely carrying four aircraft and the Dutch MACs <i><a href="/wiki/MV_Gadila" title="MV Gadila">Gadila</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/MV_Macoma" title="MV Macoma">Macoma</a></i> did so on a number of occasions, while the only report of four aircraft on board a British tanker related to an emergency diversion.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-kilbracken_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kilbracken-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Lieutenant (later Captain) <a href="/wiki/Eric_Brown_(pilot)" title="Eric Brown (pilot)">Eric "Winkle" Brown</a> made a trial landing of a <a href="/wiki/Grumman_Martlet" class="mw-redirect" title="Grumman Martlet">Martlet</a> fighter onto <a href="/wiki/MV_Amastra" title="MV Amastra"><i>Amastra</i></a> in October 1943 when the use of MACs in the Pacific was being briefly considered.<sup id="cite_ref-brown_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-brown-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="MAC_ship_crews">MAC ship crews</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: MAC ship crews"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>MAC ship crews were substantially larger than ordinary merchant ships of similar types. In addition to the air party, they carried extra Merchant Navy radio officers, engineer officers (to maintain and operate the arrester gear), catering staff and, because the total number of crew would exceed 100, a doctor, as required by the Merchant Shipping Act.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In practice, it proved difficult to find civilian doctors and medical officers were normally provided by the Royal Navy. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Air_party">Air party</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Air party"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg/220px-The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="151" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg/330px-The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg/440px-The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A22094.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="549" /></a><figcaption>Members of the air party and two <a href="/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish" title="Fairey Swordfish">Swordfish</a> aircraft on the snow-covered flight deck of MV <i>Ancylus</i>.</figcaption></figure> <p>The air party were responsible for flying and supporting the aircraft. The official manning scale comprised a <a href="/wiki/Lieutenant_commander" title="Lieutenant commander">lieutenant commander</a> RN or <a href="/wiki/RNVR" class="mw-redirect" title="RNVR">RNVR</a> who, as Air Staff Officer, was the master's principal adviser on naval and aviation matters; a pilot, observer and air gunner for each aircraft carried; three signalmen; five communications and armament ratings; and at least seventeen aircraft fitters. A seventeen-strong <a href="/wiki/Defensively_Equipped_Merchant_Ships" class="mw-redirect" title="Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships">DEMS</a> team of RN and Royal Artillery personnel looked after the MAC ships' substantial defensive armament. To comply with the Board of Trade regulations, all naval and military personnel were signed onto the ship's Articles as supernumerary crew members, for which they received a nominal payment of one <a href="/wiki/Shilling" title="Shilling">shilling</a> per month and the more tangible reward of one can of beer per day. They also received a small 'Merchant Navy' badge, which many apparently wore on their uniforms with cheerful disregard for regulations.<sup id="cite_ref-brand_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-brand-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-kilbracken_51-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kilbracken-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Operational_effectiveness">Operational effectiveness</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Operational effectiveness"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>By the time the MAC ships entered service the Battle of the Atlantic had already swung permanently in the Allies' favour through a variety of converging factors.<sup id="cite_ref-terraine_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-terraine-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From the beginning of 1944 almost every convoy <a href="/wiki/ON_convoys" class="mw-redirect" title="ON convoys"> outbound from the British Isles to North America</a> (ON) and <a href="/wiki/HX_convoys" title="HX convoys"> Halifax convoys</a> (HX) that went east-bound to the British Isles contained at least one MAC ship and frequently more.<sup id="cite_ref-DBNAII_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DBNAII-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Although MAC ship Swordfish made a dozen attacks, no U-boat was ever destroyed by the four thousand sorties flown from the nineteen MAC ships.<sup id="cite_ref-aps_48-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-aps-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Nevertheless, according to the official Naval Staff History: </p> <dl><dd><dl><dd>"Frequently when there were no kills it was the very presence of aircraft, carrier-borne or shore-based, or both which prevented the development of the attack by a concentration of U-boats on the convoy and which allowed it to continue on its way unmolested."<sup id="cite_ref-DBNAII_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DBNAII-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></dd></dl></dd></dl> <p>It is sometimes claimed that MAC ships enjoyed a near-perfect record in preventing U-boat attacks. In fact, a number of ships were lost to U-boats while sailing in convoys protected by MACs, including six merchantmen and three escorts from the combined <a href="/wiki/Convoys_ONS_18/ON_202" title="Convoys ONS 18/ON 202">convoys ONS 18/ON 202</a>, despite the presence of MAC Ship <i>Empire MacAlpine</i>, and two merchantmen and an escort from SC 143 protected by <i>Rapana</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-poolman_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-poolman-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There can be little doubt, however, that the MAC ships' contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic was important and highly valued by the seafarers they protected. Merchant ship masters at a pre-convoy conference are said to have cheered when told that a MAC ship would be sailing with the convoy.<sup id="cite_ref-lenaghan_7-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Early in 1944 it was agreed that MAC ships could be used to help clear a backlog of more than 500 aircraft awaiting shipment to the United Kingdom and, as the year progressed, a number of MAC ships made non-operational ferry crossings with full deck cargoes of aircraft.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In September 1944, some MAC ships were fitted with equipment to refuel escorts by means of a hose streamed over the stern.<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By this time it was becoming apparent that all nineteen MAC ships were no longer required to protect Atlantic convoys. The possibility of using them in the Pacific as aircraft carriers or fleet oilers had been considered earlier but rejected on the grounds of cost-effectiveness and in September/October 1944, <i>Acavus</i>, <i>Amastra</i>, <i>Ancylus</i> and <i>Rapana</i> were taken out of service for reinstatement as conventional merchant ships at an estimated cost to the Government of £40,000 each.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The remaining MAC ships were released for reinstatement at the end of May 1945. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="MAC_Ships">MAC Ships</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: MAC Ships"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="New-build_grain_carriers">New-build grain carriers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: New-build grain carriers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Approximately 8,000 tons deep load, 12 knots, 4 aircraft, crew 107, entered service April 1943 – March 1944. Operated by the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Hain_Steamship_Company&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hain Steamship Company (page does not exist)">Hain Steamship Company</a> except <i>Empire MacAlpine</i> and <i>Empire MacKendrick</i> which were operated by <a href="/wiki/Ben_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Ben Line">Ben Line Steamers</a>. Equipped with hangar and lift. Armament: 1 x single 4 in (102 mm) QF MK IV, 2 x single 40 mm Bofors, 4 x single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons.<sup id="cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mitchell_and_Sawyer-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hobbs_58-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbs-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacAlpine" title="MV Empire MacAlpine">MV <i>Empire MacAlpine</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacAndrew" title="MV Empire MacAndrew">MV <i>Empire MacAndrew</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacCallum" title="MV Empire MacCallum">MV <i>Empire MacCallum</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacDermott" title="MV Empire MacDermott">MV <i>Empire MacDermott</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacKendrick" title="MV Empire MacKendrick">MV <i>Empire MacKendrick</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacRae" title="MV Empire MacRae">MV <i>Empire MacRae</i></a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="New-build_oil_tankers">New-build oil tankers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: New-build oil tankers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Approximately 9,000 tons deep load, 11 knots, 3/4 aircraft, crew 122, entered service October – December 1943. Operated by the <a href="/wiki/British_Tanker_Company" title="British Tanker Company">British Tanker Company</a> except <i>Empire MacKay</i> which was operated by <a href="/wiki/Anglo_Saxon_Petroleum" class="mw-redirect" title="Anglo Saxon Petroleum">Anglo Saxon Petroleum</a>. No hangar and lift; aircraft maintained and stored on deck. Armament: 1 x single 4 in (102 mm) QF MK IV, 8 x single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons.<sup id="cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mitchell_and_Sawyer-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hobbs_58-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbs-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacCabe" title="MV Empire MacCabe">MV <i>Empire MacCabe</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacColl" title="MV Empire MacColl">MV <i>Empire MacColl</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacKay" title="MV Empire MacKay">MV <i>Empire MacKay</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Empire_MacMahon" title="MV Empire MacMahon">MV <i>Empire MacMahon</i></a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="'Triple_Twelve'_oil_tankers"><span id=".27Triple_Twelve.27_oil_tankers"></span>'Triple Twelve' oil tankers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: 'Triple Twelve' oil tankers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>8,000 tons standard, 16,000 tons deep load, 12 knots, 3/4 aircraft, crew 118 (64 RN plus 54 MN), entered service (as MACs) July 1943 – May 1944. Operated by <a href="/wiki/Anglo_Saxon_Petroleum" class="mw-redirect" title="Anglo Saxon Petroleum">Anglo Saxon Petroleum</a> except <i>Gadila</i> and <i>Macoma</i> which were under Dutch registry, but like Anglo Saxon Petroleum, also a subsidiary of Royal Dutch/Shell. No hangar and lift; aircraft maintained and stored on deck. Armament: 1 x single 4 in (102 mm) QF MK IV, 2 x single 40 mm Bofors, 6 x single 20 mm Oerlikon cannons.<sup id="cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Mitchell_and_Sawyer-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-hobbs_58-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbs-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These ships were called <i>Triple Twelves</i> because with a <a href="/wiki/Deadweight_tonnage" title="Deadweight tonnage">deadweight tonnage</a> of 12,000 each consumed 12 tons of fuel per day at a speed of twelve knots.<sup id="cite_ref-howarth_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-howarth-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/MV_Acavus" title="MV Acavus">MV <i>Acavus</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Adula" title="MV Adula">MV <i>Adula</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Alexia" title="MV Alexia">MV <i>Alexia</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Amastra" title="MV Amastra">MV <i>Amastra</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Ancylus" title="MV Ancylus">MV <i>Ancylus</i></a>: operated Swordfish II of 'O' Flight, 860 NAS</li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Gadila" title="MV Gadila">MV <i>Gadila</i></a>: operated under Dutch registry with Swordfish of 'S' Flight, 860 NAS</li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Macoma" title="MV Macoma">MV <i>Macoma</i></a>: operated under Dutch registry with Swordfish of 'O' (later 'F') Flight, 860 NAS</li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Miralda" title="MV Miralda">MV <i>Miralda</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MV_Rapana" title="MV Rapana">MV <i>Rapana</i></a>: operated Swordfish II of 'L' Flight, 836 NAS</li></ul> <p><i>Amastra</i> and <i>Ancylus</i> ceased operating Swordfish in late 1944, the empty decks often being used to ferry aircraft from the US to the UK.<sup id="cite_ref-hobbs_58-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-hobbs-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/CAM_ship" title="CAM ship">CAM ship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aircraft_cruiser" title="Aircraft cruiser">Aircraft cruiser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighter_catapult_armed_auxiliary_ship" class="mw-redirect" title="Fighter catapult armed auxiliary ship">Fighter catapult armed auxiliary ship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armed_merchantman" title="Armed merchantman">Armed merchantman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_World_War_II" title="List of aircraft carriers of World War II">List of aircraft carriers of World War II</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFJones2018" class="citation book cs1">Jones, Ben (2018). <i>The Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War, Volume 2</i>. Navy Records Society/Routledge. p. 400. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-351-13087-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-351-13087-5"><bdi>978-1-351-13087-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Fleet+Air+Arm+in+the+Second+World+War%2C+Volume+2&rft.pages=400&rft.pub=Navy+Records+Society%2FRoutledge&rft.date=2018&rft.isbn=978-1-351-13087-5&rft.aulast=Jones&rft.aufirst=Ben&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/The_National_Archives_(United_Kingdom)" title="The National Archives (United Kingdom)">The National Archives</a>: Public Record Office (TNA:PRO), ADM 234/383, <i>The Development of British Naval Aviation</i>, Volume I.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-friedman-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-friedman_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-friedman_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-friedman_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-friedman_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFriedman1988" class="citation book cs1">Friedman, Norman (1988). <i>British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and their Aircraft</i>. London, UK: <a href="/wiki/Conway_Maritime_Press" class="mw-redirect" title="Conway Maritime Press">Conway Maritime Press</a>. pp. 179–181. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85177-488-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-85177-488-1"><bdi>0-85177-488-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=British+Carrier+Aviation%3A+The+Evolution+of+the+Ships+and+their+Aircraft&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=179-181&rft.pub=Conway+Maritime+Press&rft.date=1988&rft.isbn=0-85177-488-1&rft.aulast=Friedman&rft.aufirst=Norman&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-roskill1-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-roskill1_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRoskill1954" class="citation book cs1">Roskill, Captain S.W. (1954). <i>The War at Sea 1939–1945, Volume I</i>. <a href="/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, UK: <a href="/wiki/HMSO" class="mw-redirect" title="HMSO">HMSO</a>. p. 477.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+War+at+Sea+1939%E2%80%931945%2C+Volume+I&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=477&rft.pub=HMSO&rft.date=1954&rft.aulast=Roskill&rft.aufirst=Captain+S.W.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-DBNAII-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-DBNAII_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-DBNAII_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-DBNAII_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 234/384, <i>The Development of British Naval Aviation</i>, Volume II.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schofield, B. B., 'The Defeat of the U-Boats During World War II' in <i>Journal of Contemporary History</i> Vol. 16, No. 1 (January 1981), p. 125.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-lenaghan-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-12"><sup><i><b>m</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-13"><sup><i><b>n</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-lenaghan_7-14"><sup><i><b>o</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLenaghanR._BakerW._J._HoltA._J._Sims1983" class="citation book cs1">Lenaghan, J; R. Baker; W. J. Holt; A. J. Sims; A. W. Watson (1983). <i>Selected Papers on British Warship Design in World War II</i>. <a href="/wiki/London" title="London">London</a>, UK: <a href="/wiki/Conway_Maritime_Press" class="mw-redirect" title="Conway Maritime Press">Conway Maritime Press</a>. pp. 43–62. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85177-284-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-85177-284-6"><bdi>0-85177-284-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Selected+Papers+on+British+Warship+Design+in+World+War+II&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=43-62&rft.pub=Conway+Maritime+Press&rft.date=1983&rft.isbn=0-85177-284-6&rft.aulast=Lenaghan&rft.aufirst=J&rft.au=R.+Baker&rft.au=W.+J.+Holt&rft.au=A.+J.+Sims&rft.au=A.+W.+Watson&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-poolman-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-poolman_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-poolman_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPoolman1972" class="citation book cs1">Poolman, Kenneth (1972). <i>Escort Carrier 1941-1945: An Account of British Escort carriers in Trade Protection</i>. London, UK: <a href="/wiki/Ian_Allan_Publishing" title="Ian Allan Publishing">Ian Allan</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Escort+Carrier+1941-1945%3A+An+Account+of+British+Escort+carriers+in+Trade+Protection&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pub=Ian+Allan&rft.date=1972&rft.aulast=Poolman&rft.aufirst=Kenneth&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-wragg-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-wragg_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWragg2005" class="citation book cs1">Wragg, David (2005). <i>The Escort Carrier in World War II: Combustible, Vulnerable, Expendable!</i>. Barnsley, UK: <a href="/wiki/Pen_and_Sword_Books" title="Pen and Sword Books">Pen & Sword Maritime</a>. pp. 12–24. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84415-220-0" title="Special:BookSources/1-84415-220-0"><bdi>1-84415-220-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Escort+Carrier+in+World+War+II%3A+Combustible%2C+Vulnerable%2C+Expendable%21&rft.place=Barnsley%2C+UK&rft.pages=12-24&rft.pub=Pen+%26+Sword+Maritime&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=1-84415-220-0&rft.aulast=Wragg&rft.aufirst=David&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">National Maritime Museum (NMM), Ship's Cover 667Y, <i>Escort Carriers Converted from Grain Ships etc.</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_MT59/1966(290642)_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Minute dated 29 June 1942</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Admiralty to Ministry of War Transport dated 1 September 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">NMM, Ship's Cover 667Y, Controller to ACNS(T) dated 1 October 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_FO371/32584(271042)_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, FO 371/32584, Construction of Merchant Aircraft Carriers: Joint Memorandum by First Lord of the Admiralty and Minister of War Transport dated 27 October 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, CAB 65/28.17, War Cabinet Conclusions 147(42) of 29 October 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, BADW to Admiralty dated 27 November 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">NMM, Ship's Cover 667Y, DMB to DNC dated 9 June 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Minute dated 12 November 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Anglo-Saxon to Ministry of War Transport dated 2 February 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-howarth-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-howarth_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-howarth_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHowarth1992" class="citation book cs1">Howarth, Stephen (1992). <i>Sea Shell: The Story of Shell's British Tanker Fleets 1892–1992</i>. London, UK: <a href="/wiki/Thomas_reed_publications" class="mw-redirect" title="Thomas reed publications">Thomas Reed Publications Limited</a>. pp. 90–91:114–119. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-947637-32-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-947637-32-X"><bdi>0-947637-32-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Sea+Shell%3A+The+Story+of+Shell%27s+British+Tanker+Fleets+1892%E2%80%931992&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=90-91%3A114-119&rft.pub=Thomas+Reed+Publications+Limited&rft.date=1992&rft.isbn=0-947637-32-X&rft.aulast=Howarth&rft.aufirst=Stephen&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1494, Minute dated 19 January 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1494, Edelsten to Hurcomb dated 11 February 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1494, Minute dated 17 February 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1494, Hurcomb to Moore dated 11 May 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Mitchell_and_Sawyer-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Mitchell_and_Sawyer_25-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMitchell,_W_H1990" class="citation book cs1">Mitchell, W H, and Sawyer, L A (1990). <i>The Empire Ships</i>. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85044-275-4" title="Special:BookSources/1-85044-275-4"><bdi>1-85044-275-4</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Empire+Ships&rft.place=London%2C+New+York%2C+Hamburg%2C+Hong+Kong&rft.pub=Lloyd%27s+of+London+Press+Ltd&rft.date=1990&rft.isbn=1-85044-275-4&rft.aulast=Mitchell%2C+W+H&rft.aufirst=and+Sawyer%2C+L+A&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, FO 371/32584, Waldock to Steel dated 27 December 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, FO 371/32584, Construction of Merchant Ship Aircraft Carriers, Steel to Dean dated 29 October 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, FO 371/32584, Le Rougetel to Waldock dated 12 January 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/16111, Minute by DTD dated 18 September 1944.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/16111, Admiralty to the Masters mv <i>Acavus, Amastra, Ancylus, Rapana</i> dated 25 September 1944.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-brand-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-brand_31-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-brand_31-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrand2009" class="citation book cs1">Brand, Stanley (2009). <i>Achtung Swordfish!: Merchant Aircraft Carriers</i>. Leeds, UK: Propagator Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781-86029-805-9" title="Special:BookSources/9781-86029-805-9"><bdi>9781-86029-805-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Achtung+Swordfish%21%3A+Merchant+Aircraft+Carriers&rft.place=Leeds%2C+UK&rft.pub=Propagator+Press&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=9781-86029-805-9&rft.aulast=Brand&rft.aufirst=Stanley&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/15553, First Lord of the Admiralty to War Cabinet dated 4 May 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">University of Glasgow Archive Services (UGAS), DC 035/43, Papers of Sir James Lithgow, 1883–1952; Shipbuilder and Industrialist: Lithgow to Powell dated 25 April 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">UGAS, DC 035/66, Lithgow to Wake-Walker dated 14 April 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">NMM, Ship's Cover 667Y, Lenaghan to Bartlett dated 6 August 1942</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/15553, MAC Ship Programme dated 5 October 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Signal from Admiralty dated 22 September 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Redford, Duncan, 'The March 1943 Crisis in the Battle of the Atlantic: Myth and Reality' in <i>History: The Journal of the Historical Association</i>, Vol. 92, No. 305 (January 2007), p. 80.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/14179, Draft Acquaint and minutes dated 3–18 March 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TNA_ADM1/13087(040343)_40-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13087, Minute by DTD dated 4 March 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13087, Admiralty to Ministry of War Transport dated 7 May 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13087, Minutes of Meeting to Consider the Employment of M.A.C. Ships dated 26 January 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13523, Merchant Aircraft Carriers for Protection of Convoys, Minute by DNAO dated 5 February 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/14179, Setting up of Merchant Ship Aircraft Carrier Section in Trade Division, Minute by DNAD dated 14 December 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/16942, Operation and Administration of Merchant Aircraft Carrier Ships, Message from Admiralty to CinC Western Approaches dated 24 June 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13523, Message from CinC Western Approaches to Admiralty dated 30 July 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013849/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Squadrons/840.html">"840 Squadron"</a>. <i>Fleet Air Arm Archive</i>. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 December</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Fleet+Air+Arm+Archive&rft.atitle=840+Squadron&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fleetairarmarchive.net%2FSquadrons%2F840.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: unfit URL (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_unfit_URL" title="Category:CS1 maint: unfit URL">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-aps-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-aps_48-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-aps_48-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWinton1977" class="citation book cs1">Winton, John (1977). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/airpoweratsea1930000wint/page/82"><i>Air Power at Sea 1939–45</i></a></span>. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/airpoweratsea1930000wint/page/82">82</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-690-01222-5" title="Special:BookSources/0-690-01222-5"><bdi>0-690-01222-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Air+Power+at+Sea+1939%E2%80%9345&rft.place=New+York&rft.pages=82&rft.pub=Thomas+Y.+Crowell+Company&rft.date=1977&rft.isbn=0-690-01222-5&rft.aulast=Winton&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fairpoweratsea1930000wint%2Fpage%2F82&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 217/495, Report of Proceedings – M.A.C.<i>Gadila</i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 217/544, Report of Proceedings – M.A.C. <i><a href="/wiki/Macoma" title="Macoma">Macoma</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-kilbracken-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-kilbracken_51-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-kilbracken_51-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKilbracken1980" class="citation book cs1">Kilbracken, Lord (1980). <i>Bring Back My Stringbag: A Swordfish Pilot at War 1940–45</i>. London, UK: Pan Books. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-330-26172-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-330-26172-X"><bdi>0-330-26172-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Bring+Back+My+Stringbag%3A+A+Swordfish+Pilot+at+War+1940%E2%80%9345&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pub=Pan+Books&rft.date=1980&rft.isbn=0-330-26172-X&rft.aulast=Kilbracken&rft.aufirst=Lord&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-brown-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-brown_52-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrown2007" class="citation book cs1">Brown, Captain Eric (2007). <i>Wings on My Sleeve</i>. London, UK: <a href="/wiki/Weidenfeld_%26_Nicolson" title="Weidenfeld & Nicolson">Weidenfeld & Nicolson</a>. p. 53. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7538-2209-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7538-2209-8"><bdi>978-0-7538-2209-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Wings+on+My+Sleeve&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=53&rft.pub=Weidenfeld+%26+Nicolson&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-0-7538-2209-8&rft.aulast=Brown&rft.aufirst=Captain+Eric&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 1/13523, Merchant Aircraft Carriers for Protection of Convoys, Note by DTD dated 30 November 1942.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-terraine-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-terraine_54-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFTerraine1990" class="citation book cs1">Terraine, John (1990). <i>Business in Great Waters: The U-Boat Wars 1916–1945</i>. London, UK: Mandarin Paperbacks. p. 756. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-330-26172-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-330-26172-X"><bdi>0-330-26172-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Business+in+Great+Waters%3A+The+U-Boat+Wars+1916%E2%80%931945&rft.place=London%2C+UK&rft.pages=756&rft.pub=Mandarin+Paperbacks&rft.date=1990&rft.isbn=0-330-26172-X&rft.aulast=Terraine&rft.aufirst=John&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, British Merchant Shipping Mission Washington to Ministry of War Transport dated 30 December 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, ADM 217/255, Report of Proceedings – M.A.C. <i><a href="/wiki/Empire_MacRae" class="mw-redirect" title="Empire MacRae">Empire MacRae</a></i>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">TNA:PRO, MT 59/1966, Note dated 27 October 1943.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-hobbs-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-hobbs_58-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-hobbs_58-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-hobbs_58-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-hobbs_58-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHobbs1996" class="citation book cs1">Hobbs, David (1996). <i>Aircraft Carriers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies: The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia from World War I to the Present</i>. London: Greenhill Books. pp. 231–248. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85367-252-1" title="Special:BookSources/1-85367-252-1"><bdi>1-85367-252-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Aircraft+Carriers+of+the+Royal+and+Commonwealth+Navies%3A+The+Complete+Illustrated+Encyclopedia+from+World+War+I+to+the+Present&rft.place=London&rft.pages=231-248&rft.pub=Greenhill+Books&rft.date=1996&rft.isbn=1-85367-252-1&rft.aulast=Hobbs&rft.aufirst=David&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMerchant+aircraft+carrier" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Merchant_aircraft_carrier&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; 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