in both guises

Official No:                              4681

Builder:                                    Howaldtsweke A G, Keil

Launched:                               1 December 1934

Into Service:                            WW2

Out of service:                         May 1945

Fate:                                         Broken up June 1958

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   One of a group of additional Dutch-flagged ships which served as a MAC ship and also an Escort Oiler during WW2

Career Data:

1 December 1934 launched by Howaldtswerke A G, Keil as yard Nr: 732 named Gadila for N V Petroleum Maatschappij “La Corona”, The Hague (Royal Dutch Shell)

11 April 1935 completed as a tanker

20 May 1935 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

19 February 1936 arrived at Liverpool

28 May 1937 arrived at Las Palmas

17 July 1938 arrived at Suez

25 May 1939 passed Dover

8 June 1939 passed Dungeness

10 July 1939 passed Gibraltar sailing eastbound

15 January 1942 when sailing Singapore mined west of outer shoals beacon suffering extensive damage to three forward tanks and pumproom. Source Admiralty War Diary of 16 January 1942 page 409 

25 January 1943 sailed Curacao in convoy TAG68 to Guantanamo arriving 28 June 1943. Convoy consisted of 21 ships without an escort

April 1943 taken in hand for Admiralty service as a Merchant Aircraft Carrier and the 6 month conversion work for this role was undertaken by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd., North Shields

March 1944 conversion completed and entered service along with her sister Macoma as the first Dutch aircraft carriers, prompting the RNetheN to operate purpose built carriers after WW2. Operated 4 x Fairey Swordfish aircraft from 860 (Dutch) Squadron NAS

23 March 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON229 to Halifax arriving 4 April 1944

17 April 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC157 to the Clyde arriving 1 May 1944

12 May 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON236 to Halifax arriving 25 May 1944

29 May 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX293 to the Clyde arriving 9 June 1944

18 June 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON241 to Halifax arriving 30 June 1944

13 July 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX299 to the Clyde arriving 23 July 1944

18 August 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON249 to Halifax arriving 31 August 1944

2 September 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX306 to the Clyde arriving 17 September 1944

29 September 1944 suffered engine trouble delaying her sailing

29 October 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON263 to Halifax arriving 12 November 1944

17 November 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC161 to the Clyde arriving 4 December 1944. Acted as an Escort Oiler during this convoy

19 December 1944 sailed the Clyde joining escorted convoy ON273 to Halifax arriving 2 January 1945

20 January 1945 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX333 to the Clyde arriving 2 February 1945

9 February 1945 magazine completely flooded from a fresh water tank – cause suspicious – Source Admiralty War Diary of this date page 1360

11 February 1945 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy ON284 to Halifax arriving 26 February 1945

7 March 1945 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC169 to the Clyde arriving 20 March 1945. Acted as an Escort Oiler during this convoy

7 April 1945 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy ON295 to Halifax arriving 22 April 1945

1 May 1945 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX353 to the River Clyde arriving 15 May 1945. Acted as an Escort Oiler during this convoy

30 May 1945 taken out of service and after re-conversion back into a tanker by Mij Feijenoord, Schiedam was returned to her owners as Gadila

6 June 1958 arrived at Hong Kong for demolition by Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co Ltd