Official Number:                     167247

Laid down:

Builder:                                     N.V.Wilton Fijenoord, Schiedam

Launched:                                March 1935

Into Service:                             1939

Out of service:                         1945

Fate:                                          January 1958 scrapped

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  

One of a group of 9 ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 initially as tankers and then for conversion from an existing tanker design into a Merchant Aircraft Carrier by adding the flight deck over the superstructure so that only the bridge deck and the funnel had to be removed and the former replaced with a small island bridge. This only led to a 10% reduction  in cargo deadweight and the ships only carried crude oil when operating as MAC’s.

Career Data:

March 1935 launched by N.V.Wilton Fijenoord, Schiedam as Yard Nr 654 named RAPANA for N.V. Petroleum Maatschappj “La Corona”, The Hague (Royal Dutch Shell)

April 1935 completed as a tanker

10 September 1936 arrived at Curaçao from Genoa

30 November 1937 arrived at Port Said from Trieste

1938 owners became Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London, name unchanged

28 April 1938 passed the Lloyds signal station on the Lizard sailing east bound

2 May 1938 sailed from Falmouth for St. Kitts

2 October 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at St Catherines Point sailing east bound

1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Oiler, name unchanged

23 September 1939 sailed the Clyde and joined convoy OB10 from Liverpool which dispersed on 28 September 1939 thence independently to Galveston arriving 18 October 1939. The ships Master was Vice Commodore of this convoy

19 October 1939 sailed Galveston independently to Lake Charles arriving 22 October 1939

20 October 1939 at Houston, Texas Fireman Toe Tang discharged dead – drowned

29 October 1939 sailed Lake Charles independently to Halifax arriving 8 November 1939

9 November 1939 sailed Halifax independently to Gibraltar arriving 22 November 1939

23 November 1939 sailed Gibraltar independently

1 December 1939 sailed Port de Bouc independently to Port Said arriving 8 December 1939

9 December 1939 sailed Port Said independently to Tripoli arriving 11 December 1939

11 December 1939 sailed Tripoli independently to Gibraltar arriving 22 December 1939

24 December 1939 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HG12 to Brest arriving 1 January 1940

3 January 1940 sailed Brest independently to Pauillac 8 January 1940

17 January 1940 sailed Verdon in escorted French convoy 28XS to Casablanca arriving 23 January 1940

25 January 1940 sailed Oran independently to Port Said arriving 31 January 1940

1 February 1940 sailed Port Said independently to Haifa arriving the next day

3 February 1940 sailed Haifa independently to Gibraltar arriving 10 February 1940

12 February 1940 sailed Gibraltar independently to Casablanca arriving the next day

14 February 1940 sailed Casablanca in the unescorted convoy KS65 to Brest arriving 20 February 1940

23 February 1940 sailed Verdon independently to Rouen arriving 26 February 1940

2 March 1940 sailed Rouen independently to Falmouth arriving 4 March 1940

16 April 1940 sailed Falmouth and joined the escorted convoy OA129 from Southend until it dispersed on 17 April 1940 and then sailed independently to Curacao arriving 1 May 1940

3 May 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda arriving 8 May 1940

11 May 1940 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX42 to Halifax and the convoy joined escorted convoy HX42 on 17 May 1940 thence to Gironde arriving 27 May 1940

8 June 1940 sailed Pauillac independently to Weymouth Bay arriving 11 June 1940

13 June 1940 sailed Weymouth Bay independently to the Downs arriving the next day

25 June 1940 sailed Southend in escorted convoy OA174 until it dispersed on 28 June 1940 and then independently to Trinidad arriving 11 July 1940

12 July 1940 sailed Trinidad to Puerto La Cruz

16 July 1940 sailed Puerto La Cruz independently to Curacao arriving 18 July 1940

27 July 1940 sailed Curaco independently to Bermuda

3 August 1940 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX63 with a cargo of FFO.  Joinging escorted convoy HX63 from Halifax to Methil arriving on the 19 August 1940

20 August 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS258 to Southend arriving 22 August 1940

13 September 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN279 to Methil arriving 15 September 1940

18 September 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy OA216 which joined up with escorted convoy OB261 on the 21 September 1940. The escorts withdrew on 21 September 1940 and the ships sailed independently. Rapana sailed as such to Curacao arriving on 7 October 1940

9 October 1940 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda arriving 14 October 1940

17 October 1940 sailed Bermuda independently to Halifax arriving on 20 October 1940

14 November 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX87 to the River Clyde arriving 29 November 1940 with a cargo of Diesol

7 December 1940 sailed the River Clyde in escorted convoy WN50 to Methil arriving 10 December 1940

17 December 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS362 to Southend arriving 19 December 1940

29 December 1940 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN371 to Methil joining escorted convoy EN50/1 to Oban in ballast arriving 5 January 1941

6 January 1941 sailed Oban joining escorted convoy OB270 from Liverpool until it dispersed on 8 January 1941 then independently to Aruba arriving 25 January 1941

26 January 1941 sailed Aruba independently to Bermuda arriving on 2 February 1941

7 February 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX108 which joined escorted convoy HX108 from Halifax on 12 February 1941 to the River Clyde arriving 27 February 1941

22 February 1941 during the passage of Convoy HX108 was involved in a collision with another vessel details current unknown

4 March 1941 sailed the Clyde independently to Avonmouth arriving 6 March 1941

8 March 1941 sailed Avonmouth independently to Cardiff arriving 11 March 1941

6 April 1941 sailed Cardiff independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

11 April 1941 sailed Milford Haven and joined escorted convoy OB309 from Liverpool which dispersed on 19 April 1941 and then independently to Curacao arriving 3 May 1941

10 May 1941 sailed Curacao independently to Bermuda arriving 15 May 1941

19 May 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX44 but had to put back the same day

25 May 1941 sailed Bermuda in escorted convoy BHX129 which joined escorted convoy HX129 from Halifax on 31 May 1941 to Oban arriving 12 June 1941

14 June 1941 sailed Oban in unescorted convoy WN140 to Methil arriving 17 June 1941

18 June 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS519 to Southend arriving 20 June 1941

27 June 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN485 to Methil arriving the next day

2 July 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EC40 to Loch Ewe arriving 4 July 1941 and then independently to New York arriving 20 July 1941

23 July 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 25 July 1941

1 August 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX142 to the River Clyde arriving 17 August 1941

31 August 1941 sailed the Clyde and joined escorted convoy ON11 from Liverpool until dispersal on the 11 September 1941 and then independently to New York arriving 16 September 1941

18 September 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 21 September 1941

28 September 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX152 to Loch Ewe arriving 12 October 1941 then joining unescorted convoy WN192 to Methil arriving 15 October 1941

16 October 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS622 to Southend arriving 18 October 1941

14 November 1941 at Tilbury Dock Bosun Lew Ah Tee discharged dead – presumed drowned

25 November 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy FN562 to Methil arriving 27 November 1941

29 November 1941 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN13 to Loch Ewe arriving 1 December 1941 and the independently to Curaçao arriving 24 December 1941

27 December 1941 sailed Curaçao independenly to Halifax arriving 5 January 1942

1 January 1942 Pumpman Lee Foi awarded the British Empire Medal – Civil Division – in the New Years Honours list for 1942. Details published in the London Gazette of this day

20 January 1942 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX171 to Liverpool arriving 2 February 1942

14 February 1942 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON67 until dispersal on 1 March 1942 thence independently to Curaçao arriving 10 March 1942

14 March 1942 sailed Curaçao independently to Halifax arriving 25 March 1942

16 March 1942 in the Caribbean 2nd Steward Chew Ah Swan discharged dead – disppeared at sea

27 March 1942 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX182 to Liverpool arriving 9 April 1942

16 April 1942 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON87 until dispersal on 26 April 1942 and then independently to Trinidad arriving 3 May 1942

9 May 1942 sailed Trinidad independently to Curacao arriving 11 May 1942

18 May 1942 sailed Curaçao in unescorted convoy OT1 to Trinidad arriving 22 May 1942 then sailed and joined escorted convoy SL111 at sea to the Clyde arriving 15 June 1942

18 June 1942 sailed the Clyde independently to Liverpool arriving the next day

26 June 1942 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON107 until dispersal on the 9 July 1942 off Halifax then independently to New York arriving 10 July 1942

12 July 1942 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads

17 July 1942 sailed Hampton Roads in unescorted convoy KS521 to Key West arriving 22 July 1942

25 July 1942 sailed Key West in escorted convoy WAT9 to Curacao arriving 2 August 1942

9 August 1942 sailed Curacao in escortee convoy TAW12C to Key West arriving 16 August 1942

18 August 1942 sailed Key West in unescorted convoy KN131 to Hampton Roads arriving 23 August 1942

25 August 1942 sailed New York independently to Cape Cod Bay

28 August 1942 sailed Cape Cod Bay in escorted convoy BX35B to Halifax arriving 30 August 1942

30 August 1942 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX205 to Belfast Lough arriving 11 September 1942

11 September 1942 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB219 to Avonmouth arriving the next day

16 September 1942 sailed Avonmouth independently to Cardiff arriving the next day

13 October 1942 sailed Cardiff independently to Milford Haven arriving the next day

15 October 1942 sailed Milford Haven in escorted convoy ON139 for New York but returned to the Clyde arriving 19 October 1942

24 October 1942 sailed the Clyde joining in escorted convoy ON141 to New York arriving 10 November 1942

16 November 1942 sailed New York in unescorted convoy NG422 arriving at Guantanamo 23 November 1942

23 November 1942 sailed Guantanamo in unescorted convoy GAT24 to Curaçao arriving 26 November 194

2 December 1942 sailed Curaçao and joined in unescorted convoy TAG25 arriving at Guantanamo 4 December 1942

4 December 1942 sailed Guantanamo in unescorted convoy GN25 to New York arriving 10 December 1942

13 December 1942 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX219 to Belfast Lough arriving 28 December 1942

28 December 1942 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB249 to Avonmouth arriving 30 December 1942

23 January 1943 sailed Avonmouth and joined in escorted convoy ON159 to Halifax arriving 18 January 1943

24 January 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX224 to Liverpool arriving 7 February 1943. RFA EMPIRE SALVAGE also sailed in this convoy

13 February 1943 sailed Liverpool independently to Loch Ewe arriving 15 February 1943

17 February 1943 sailed Loch Ewe is unescorted convoy WN396 to Methil arriving 19 February 1943

19 February 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS1043 to the River Tyne arriving the next day

February 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.

July 1943 conversion completed and entered service as the first M.A.C and operated 4 x Fairey Swordfish aircraft from 836 / 840 NAS

25 July 1943 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FN1081 to Methil arriving the next day

27 July 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN261 to the Clyde arriving 30 July 1943

2 August 1943 the Admiralty were signalled that RAPANA’s aircraft trials had been successfully completed – Admiralty War Diary page 45 of this date

1 September 1943 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy ONS17 to Halifax arriving 16 September 1943

28 September 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC143 to Halifax arriving the Clyde 12 October 1943

6 December 1943 Sub Lieutenant (A) William H H Small RNZNVR 836 Flight NAS. Midshipman (A) Alan A Douglas-Matheson RNVR and Leading Airman Stanley Paige FX86660 FAA all discharged dead – air crash. Midshipman Alan A Douglas-Matheson RNVR is buried in Cambeltown (Kilkerran) Cemetery in Division 4 Grave 634 and Leading Airman Stanley Paige FX86660 FAA is buried in Croydon (Mitcham Road) Cemetery in Plot QQ in Grave 37336

13 January 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX275 to Liverpool arriving 28 January 1944

22 February 1944 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON225 to New York City arriving 8 March 1944

13 March 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX283 to Liverpool arriving 29 March 1944

20 April 1944 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON233 to New York City arriving 8 May 1944

2 May 1944 at 46.19°N 48.17°W Lieutenant (A) William Alfred Robson O’Connor RNVR – Deck Officer – discharged dead – missing at sea

27 May 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX293 to Liverpool arriving 9 June 1944

25 June 1944 sailed Liverpool in escorted convoy ON242 to New York City arriving 11 July 1942 1944

17 July 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX300 to Liverpool arriving 3 August 1944

6 September 1944 sailed  New York in escorted convoy HX307 to Liverpool arriving 20 September 1944

9 December 1944 sailed New York in escorted convoy HX325 to Liverpool arriving 23 December 1944

27 March 1945 sailed from Southend in escorted convoy ON293 to New York arriving 15 April 1945

18 April 1945 sailed from New York in escorted convoy HX351 to Liverpool arriving 3 May 1945

21 May 1945 sailed Southend in escorted convoy ON304 to New York arriving 5 June 1945

17 October 1945 at Barry, South Wales Able Seaman Patrick Kane Joyce discharged dead from pneumonia after immersion in water

1945 taken out of service and after reconversion into a tanker was returned to her owners as RAPANA

18 January 1947 sailed Montevideo for Curacao – source Lloyds

9 July 1948 at 10.43S 140.17E Chief Engineer Officer Peter Halcrow Ferguson discharged dead from a stroke

1950 transferred back to N.V. Petroleum Maatschappij “La Corona” and renamed ROTULA

21 November 1957 arrived Hong Kong and was laid up idle

January 1958 sold for scrap to Osaka ship breakers