MV Adula

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameMV Adula
OperatorAnglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell
BuilderBlytheswood
Launched28 January 1937
FateScrapped Briton Ferry 1953
General characteristics
Tonnage8,040  GRT
Length465 ft (142 m) (pp) 482.75 ft (147.14 m) (oa)
Beam59 ft (18 m)
Draught27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Propulsion
  • Diesel
  • one shaft
  • 3,500bhp
Speed13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement100
Armament
Aircraft carriedFour Fairey Swordfish

MV Adula was one of nine Royal Dutch/Shell oil tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship). The group is collectively known as the Rapana class.

MV Adula was built at Blytheswood and completed in March, 1937 as an oil tanker for the Royal Dutch/Shell line. She was converted at Falmouth to a MAC ship, entering service in February 1944. [1]

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

At the end of the war, Adula was reconverted to an oil tanker. She served in this capacity until broken up for scrap at Briton Ferry in May 1953.

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References

  1. "MV Adula Aircraft Carrier Profile". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. H.T. Lenton & J. J. Colledge (1973). Warships of World War II. Ian Allan. p. 296. ISBN   0-7110-0403-X.