The concept of the class was similar to British merchant aircraft carrier.

This is similar in concept to cruiser warships that carried escort fighters, or the merchant aircraft carrier.

Merchant aircraft carriers (MAC) carried trade cargo in addition to operating aircraft.

Most were built from mercantile hulls or, in the case of merchant aircraft carriers, were bulk cargo ships with a flight deck added on top.

The merchant aircraft carriers were modified bulk grain carriers or tankers built with flight decks and small island structures.

At first, the British developed temporary solutions such as CAM ships and merchant aircraft carriers.

MV Empire MacCabe, an oil tanker converted to a merchant aircraft carrier.

Merchant aircraft carriers or MAC ships superseded the CAM ships.

In the interim, before escort carriers could be supplied, they also brought in Merchant aircraft carriers which could operate four aircraft.

Ships that could carry aircraft, such as the CAM ships, the merchant aircraft carrier, and eventually the purpose-built escort carriers.

Further air cover was provided by the introduction of merchant aircraft carriers (MAC ships), and later the growing numbers of American-built escort carriers.

To protect Atlantic convoys, the British developed what they called Merchant Aircraft Carriers, which were merchant ships equipped with a flat deck for six aircraft.

As one of the 38 converted C3 escort carriers transferred to the United Kingdom, Ranee joined the merchant aircraft carriers guarding the Atlantic convoy routes.

As an emergency stop-gap before sufficient merchant aircraft carriers became available, the British provided air cover for convoys using Catapult aircraft merchantman (CAM ships).

MV Empire MacCallum was a grain ship converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier or MAC ship.

The Merchant Aircraft Carrier or MAC was a British or Dutch cargo ship with a flight deck that could carry a small number of aircraft.

MV Empire MacAlpine enters service as the first British Merchant Aircraft Carrier, or "MAC-ship."

They supplemented and then replaced the converted merchant aircraft carriers which were put into service by the British and Dutch as an emergency measure until the escort carriers became available.

MV Empire MacKay was an oil tanker constructed with rudimentary aircraft handling facilities as a merchant aircraft carrier (MAC ship).

And as if that was not enough, suitable merchant ships were converted into carriers, called MAC's, Merchant Aircraft Carriers, like the 8,000-ton Empire McAlpine.

MV Alexia was one of nine Royal Dutch/Shell oil tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship).

Swordfish flew from merchant aircraft carriers ("MAC ships"), 20 civilian cargo or tanker ships modified to carry three or four aircraft each, on anti-submarine duties with convoys.

Over the following six years, they would serve as merchant aircraft carriers, armed merchant cruisers, troopships, hospital ships, catapult armed merchantmen and would carry vital cargoes of fuel, food, ammunition and troops.

The British authorities used unorthodox, temporary, but effective means of giving air protection such as CAM ships and merchant aircraft carriers, merchant ships modified to carry a small number of aircraft.

Swordfish aircraft from the British Merchant Aircraft Carrier (or "MAC-ship") MV Empire MacCallum mistakenly sink the Free French submarine La Perle.

I wonder why the Mac ships aren't moving faster-"

As a MAC ship, only her air crew and the necessary maintenance staff were naval personnel.

In practice, the MAC ships were successful.

However, there is evidence that Sea Hurricanes were deployed aboard MAC ships.

She was converted at Falmouth to a MAC ship, entering service in February 1944.

The Mac ships carried Fairey Swordfish biplanes as well as cargo.

As a MAC ship, she had no aircraft hangar, and continued to carry normal oil, although operating under Royal Navy control.

Merchant aircraft carriers or MAC ships superseded the CAM ships.

"She's the most critical; she needs to be on the way with her casualties, but Kalin will probably insist on talking to the other Mac ships about it.

She entered service as a MAC ship in March 1944, and operated under the Netherlands Mercantile Marine flag.

MV Empire MacMahon was an oil tanker converted to a merchant aircraft carrier or MAC ship.

Further air cover was provided by the introduction of merchant aircraft carriers (MAC ships), and later the growing numbers of American-built escort carriers.

MV Empire MacCallum was a grain ship converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier or MAC ship.

MV Alexia was one of nine Royal Dutch/Shell oil tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship).

Slater was awarded the military OBE for his efforts, particularly for landing on a MAC ship carrying 2 depth-charges after his arrester hook had been torn away.

Other MLD personnel served on MAC ships as Fleet Air Arm 860 and 861 squadrons, flying Fairey Swordfish.

Swordfish flew from merchant aircraft carriers ("MAC ships"), 20 civilian cargo or tanker ships modified to carry three or four aircraft each, on anti-submarine duties with convoys.

Wartime records show that no convoy with an accompanying MAC ship ever lost a vessel to U-boats, nor was any MAC ship lost.

CAM and MAC ships remained as civilian ships operated by civilian crews, with Fleet Air Arm or Royal Netherlands Navy "air parties".

They could not attempt a vertical landing until the fires were extinguished ... They might try to land on one of the convoy's MAC ships - if any such remained - or on Oileus' deck.

From July 1941 they operated from HMS Furious and from October 1941, they were used on Merchant aircraft carrier (MAC ships), which were large cargo vessels with a flight deck enabling aircraft to be launched and recovered.