MV Empire MacRae was a grain ship converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier or MAC ship during the Second World War.

MV Empire MacRae.
The MV Empire MacRae.
History
United Kingdom
NameEmpire MacRae
OwnerMinistry of War Transport
OperatorHain Steam Ship Co Ltd
BuilderLithgows, Glasgow, Scotland
Launched21 June 1943
Renamed
  • Alpha Zambesi in 1947
  • Tobon in 1954
  • Depina in 1967
FateScrapped Taiwan 1971
General characteristics
Tonnage8,250 GRT
Length425 ft (130 m) (pp) 444 ft 6 in (135.48 m) (oa)
Beam57 ft 9 in (17.60 m)
Depth24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Propulsion
  • Diesel
  • one shaft
  • 3,300 bhp
Speed12.5 knots (23.2 km/h)
Complement107
Armament
Aircraft carriedFour Fairey Swordfish

She was built at Lithgows shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, under order from the Ministry of War Transport. As a MAC ship, only her air crew and the necessary maintenance staff were naval personnel[1] and she was operated by Hain Steam Ship Co Ltd of St Ives.[2]

After the war, the ship was converted to a grain carrier and was eventually scrapped at Kaohsiung in 1971.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ H.T. Lenton & J. J. Colledge (1973). Warships of World War II. Ian Allan. p. 296. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.
  2. ^ a b "List and history of the Empire ships - M". Mariners. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
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