MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

Re: MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (PMN1) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:16:42 GMT

That is correct, although you also noted why the need for such ships early on was not deemed necessary,

Yes but the need had been established all the way upto 1937 at least for the Castle line ships (Winchester Castle, Warwick Castle, Dunvegan Castle, Dunnotor Castle and Reina del Pacifica), and these were proper CVE type conversions not MAC ships so what changed betwen 1937 and 1939?

Re: MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (E F Draaijers) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:37:57 GMT

That is correct, although you also noted why the need for such ships early on was not deemed necessary, since losses by either U-Boote and/or aircraft to shipping in the beginning of WW2 were not that serious at first, untill the Germans perfected their Wolfpac concept and began to make use of the long ranged FW-200 Condor patroll aircraft in conjunction to the U-Boote. As long as such things were not revealed, there simply was no need for putting aircraft at sea to either hunt down...

Re: MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (PMN1) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:32:44 GMT

On the other hand, a need had been seen in 1923 and 4 or 5 vessels of the Castle line had been earmarked for conversion into proper CVE but lack of shipyard capacity and their apparent gretaer importance as troop carriers put paid to that.

If you have grainers or tankers being built, how much extra work is it to put a flight deck on top - three months rings a bell.

The losses hadn't become too great early on so that extra 3 months could probably be allowed for for say...

Re: MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (E F Draaijers) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:02:18 GMT

It is bassically accepted that there were several merchantvessels under construction by 1939 that were certainly suitable for converion into MAC vessels, although why would someone do so, if there was no war at sea, until september 1939? By that time, there still was no reason, since the threath of the U-Boote still had to be revealed, as did the use of the FW-200's. The MAC is just as its name indicates, a Merchant Aircraft Carrier as an emergency stopgap, untill more purposely build...

Re: MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (seasick) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:01:16 GMT

My recollection was that there were some tankers that had flight decks fitted to them and some basic aircraft maintenance, fueling, and arming facilities added. These ship never operated more than 5 fixed wing aircraft usually biplanes in the ASW roll. Occasionally the Swordfish would have to chase Fw Condors away from convoys. Once CVE started being churned out in the USA the MAC went back to being tankers. Some retained their flight decks as emergency landing strips.

MAC's from late 1939 early 1940

feeds@yuku.com (PMN1) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:28:03 GMT

From Guy Robbins 'The Aircraft Carrier Story 1908 - 1945'

In 1923 the DNC suggested 'Mercantile Aircraft Carriers' using grain ships and oil tankers. The Ten Year Programme of 1924 had recommend small 10,000 tons carriers for commerce protection (the emphasis was against air attack, not submarines), but this was seen as a 'luxury'. The Admiralty intended to build four MAC ships and equip Armed Merchant Cruisers with aircraft when war...