MV Acavus

History
United Kingdom
Name: MV Acavus
Operator: Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell
Builder: Workman, Clark and Company
Launched: 24 November 1934
Fate: Scrapped Italy 1963
General characteristics
Displacement: 8,010 tons (gross)
Length: 465 ft (142 m) (pp) 482.75 ft (147.14 m) (oa)
Beam: 59 ft (18 m)
Draught: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Propulsion:
  • Diesel
  • one shaft
  • 3,500bhp
Speed: 13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement: 100
Armament:
Aircraft carried: Four Fairey Swordfish

MV Acavus was one of nine Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship). The group is collectively called the Rapana Class.

Acavus was built by Workman, Clark and Company and completed in January 1935 as an oil tanker for the Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell line. She was converted at Falmouth to a MAC ship, entering service in October 1943.[1]

As a MAC ship, she had no aircraft hangar, and continued to carry normal cargoes, although operating under Royal Navy control. Only her aircrew and the necessary maintenance staff were naval personnel.[2]

At the end of the war Acavus was reconverted to an oil tanker, and renamed Iacra in 1963. She was in service until 1963 when she was scrapped in Italy.

References

  1. ↑ "HMS Acavus Aircraft Carrier Profile". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Lenton, HT; Colledge, JJ. Warships of World War II. Ian Allan. p. 296. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.
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