While researching some Pacific Northwest bivalves, I stumbled onto something odd via the internet. Apparently there was a series of 9 oil tankers converted to military use as small aircraft carriers, the names of which seem a bit....familiar.....here is an excerpt
Rapana Class Oil Tankers
8,000 tons standard, 16,000 tons deep load, 12 knots, 3 aircraft, crew 118 (64 RN plus 54 MN), converted 1942-44. Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company tankers. 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.
* MV Acavus
* MV Adula
* MV Alexia
* MV Amastra
* MV Ancylus: operated Swordfish II of āOā Flight, 860 NAS
* MV Gadila: operated under the Dutch ensign with Swordfish of 'S' Flight, 860 NAS
* MV Macoma: operated under the Dutch ensign with Swordfish of 'O' (later 'F') Flight, 860 NAS
* MV Miralda
* MV Rapana: operated Swordfish II of āLā Flight, 836 NAS
Amastra and Ancylus ceased operating Swordfish in late 1944, the empty decks often being used to ferry aircraft from the USA to the UK."
Late war image of Acavus, being used to ferry aircaft to GB
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