MV Alexia

MV Alexia was one of nine Royal Dutch/Shell oil tankers converted to become a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship). The group is collectively known as the Rapana class.

MV Alexia.
History
United Kingdom
Name: MV Alexia
Operator: Royal Dutch/Shell
Builder: Bremer Vulkan
Launched: 20 December 1934
Renamed: Ianthina
Honours and
awards:		 Atlantic
Fate: Scrapped Blyth 1954
General characteristics
Displacement: 8,016 tons (gross)
Length: 463 ft (141 m) (pp) 481 ft (147 m) (oa)
Beam: 59 ft (18 m)
Draught: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Propulsion:
  • Diesel
  • one shaft
  • 4,000bhp
Speed: 13 knots (24 km/h)
Complement: 100
Armament:
Aircraft carried: Four Fairey Swordfish

MV Alexia was built at Bremer Vulkan and completed in April, 1935 as an oil tanker for the Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell line.[1] She sustained severe damage in two separate U-boat attacks in 1940 and 1942.[2]

After the second attack was converted to a MAC ship, entering service in December 1943.[3]

As a MAC ship, she had no aircraft hangar, and continued to carry normal cargoes, although operating under Royal Navy control. Only her air crew and the necessary maintenance staff were naval personnel.[4]

At the end of the war, Alexia was reconverted to an oil tanker, and renamed Ianthina in 1951.[5] She served in this capacity until broken up for scrap at Blyth in 1954.

References
  1. "Alexia | Helderline.com". www.helderline.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. "Alexia (British Motor tanker) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. "HMS Alexia Aircraft Carrier Profile". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  4. H.T. Lenton & J. J. Colledge. Warships of World War II. Ian Allan. p. 296. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.
  5. "Ianthina | Helderline.com". www.helderline.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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