richie> MAC авианосцы. Кто что знает про них? Теория может есть?
richie> hms Empire MacAlpine
MAC = Merchant Aircraft Carrier. These were merchant ships with a flight deck added on top. Purpose was to provide air cover during (Atlantic Convoys) while carrying cargo. Crewed by Merchant Marine, with military crew added for flight operations, so these ships were merchant vessels, not naval vessels. Aircraft carried: 3 or 4 Fairey Swordfish biplanes. The grain carriers had an hangar, the tankers did not, so they had to park the aircraft on the flight deck
Three groups:
- Triple Twelve Tankers
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 Anglo Saxon Petroleum except Gadila and Macoma which were under Dutch registry. 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.[25][58] These ships were called Triple Twelves because with a deadweight tonnage of 12,000 each consumed 12 tons of fuel per day at a speed of twelve knots.
Anglo Saxon Petroleum = Shell = Dutch/British owned, hence two tankers under Dutch flag
MV Acavus
MV Adula
MV Alexia
MV Amastra
MV Ancylus: operated Swordfish II of 'O' Flight, 860 NAS
MV Gadila: operated under Dutch registry with Swordfish of 'S' Flight, 860 NAS
MV Macoma: operated under Dutch registry with Swordfish of 'O' (later 'F') Flight, 860 NAS
MV Miralda
MV Rapana: operated Swordfish II of 'L' Flight, 836 NAS
- Newly built Tankers
Approximately 9,000 tons deep load, 11 knots, 3/4 aircraft, crew 122, entered service October – December 1943. Operated by the British Tanker Company except Empire MacKay which was operated by Anglo Saxon Petroleum. 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.
British Tanker Company = British Petrol (BP)
MV Empire MacCabe
MV Empire MacColl
MV Empire MacKay
MV Empire MacMahon
- Newly built bulk carriers (grain)
Approximately 8,000 tons deep load, 12 knots, 4 aircraft, crew 107, entered service April 1943 – March 1944. Operated by the Hain Steamship Company except Empire MacAlpine and Empire MacKendrick which were operated by Ben Line Steamers. 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.
MV Empire MacAlpine
MV Empire MacAndrew
MV Empire MacCallum
MV Empire MacDermott
MV Empire MacKendrick
MV Empire MacRae
Operated by British crews, except MV Gadila and MV Macoma operating under Dutch flag, with Dutch aircrew. (So yes, in the 20th century the Dutch operated 4 aircraft carriers, not 2)
more info in this wikipedia article:
MV Empire MacAlpine
Royal Museums Greenwich
MV Empire MacCabe
MV Gadila
MV Macoma