IN BOTH GUISES
Official Number: 4681
Laid down:
Builder: Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Amsterdam
Launched: 31 December 1935
Into Service: 1939
Out of service: 1945
Fate: December 1959 broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of several Dutch ships requisitioned by the Admiralty for service to augment the ships of the RFA and to serve as an aircraft carrier
Career Data:
31 December 1935 launched by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Amsterdam as Yard Nr: 235 named MACOMA for N.V. Battafsche Petroleum Maatschappij, The Hague, (Royal Dutch Shell)
13 May 1936 completed as a tanker
1937 owners became N.V. Petroleum Maatschappij “La Coruña”, The Hague
27 March 1937 arrived at Port Said from Naples
2 June 1937 arrived at Suez
5 June 1937 sailed from Port Said to Abadan
4 October 1938 arrived at Buenos Aires Roads from Curaçao
8 October 1938 sailed from Buenos Aires for Curaçao
20 November 1938 sailed Buenos Aires for Curaçao
1 February 1939 arrived at Curaçao from Rotterdam
29 May 1939 sailed Lyttelton for Balik Papan
15 June 1939 sailed Balik Papan for Melbourne
24 July 1939 sailed Balik Papan for Geraldton
8 August 1939 sailed Esperance for Balik Papan
1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an oiler – name unchanged
3 December 1940 sailed Aden and joined escorted convoy BN10 to Suez arriving 10 December 1940
19 January 1941 sailed Suez in escorted convoy BS13 until dispersal on 27 January 1941 then sailed independently to Abadan
17 February 1941 sailed Aden in escorted convoy BN16 until dispersal on 20 February 1941 then sailed independently to Suez
7 April 1941 sailed Suez in escorted convoy BS23 until 14 April 1941 then sailed independently to Abadan
24 June 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MKS16 to Tripoli arriving 29 June 1943
25 August 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MKS23 to Gibraltar arriving 4 September 1943. RFA DERWENTDALE sailed in the same convoy
14 October 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MKS28 to Gibraltar arriving 23 October 1943
3 November 1943 sailed Gibraltar in convoy MKS29G to Liverpool arriving 18 November 1943
22 November 1943 taken in hand for Admiralty service as a Merchant Aircraft Carrier and the 6 month conversion work for this role was undertaken by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd., Hebburn
1 April 1944 conversion completed and entered service along with her sister GADILA as the first Dutch aircraft carriers, prompting the RNetheN to construct purpose-built carriers after WW2. Operated 4 x Fairey Swordfish aircraft from 860 (Dutch) Squadron NAS
26 June 1944 sailed the River Clyde and joined convoy ON242 from Liverpool the next day to Halifax arriving 9 July 1944 thence onward to New York
17 July 1944 sailed New York via Halifax in convoy HX300 with a cargo of USN Fuel to the River Clyde arriving 2 August 1944
11 August 1944 sailed the River Clyde joining convoy ON248S from Liverpool to Halifax arriving 25 August 1944
27 August 1944 sailed Halifax in convoy HX305 to the River Clyde arriving 10 September 1944 with a cargo of USN fuel oil
16 September 1944 sailed the River Clyde joining convoy ON254 from Liverpool to Halifax arriving 2 October 1944
7 October 1944 sailed Halifax in convoy HX312 to the River Clyde arriving 19 October 1944
29 October 1944 sailed the River Clyde joining convoy ONS35 from Liverpool to Halifax arriving on 15 November 1944
17 November 1944 sailed Halifax in convoy SC161 to the River Clyde arriving 3 December 1944
14 December 1944 sailed the River Clyde joining convoy ONS38 from Liverpool to Halifax arriving on 1 January 1945
1944 (unknown date) – Captain Egbert George Van Eerde appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Hon OBE) – ungazetted
10 January 1945 sailed Halifax joining escorted convoy HX331 to the River Clyde arriving on 22 January 1945 with a cargo of USN fuel
1 February 1945 sailed the River Clyde joing escorted convoy ON282 to Halifax arriving 17 February 1945
25 February 1945 sailed Halifax in convoy SC168 to the River Clyde arriving 12 March 1945. She also acted as an Escort Oiler during this convoy
12 April 1945 sailed the River Clyde joining convoy ONS47 to Halifax arriving 30 April 1945
7 May 1945 sailed Halifax in convoy SC175 to the River Clyde arriving 21 May 1945. She also acted as an Escort Oiler during this convoy
30 May 1945 sailed the River Clyde after being taken out of service for reconversion into a tanker by Rotterdam Drydock Co N.V, Rotterdam she was returned to her owners as MACOMA
5 May 1946 1st postwar commercial voyage from Rotterdam to Curaçao
7 March 1949 berthed at Salt End, Hull from Rotterdam
9 March 1949 sailed from Salt End, Hull for Purfleet
20 December 1949 berthed at Salt End, Hull from Rotterdam in ballast
4 December 1958 was sold for scrap
6 June 1959 arrived Hong Kong for demolition by Hong Kong Salvage & Towage Co Ltd.