MV Acavus

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

MV Acavus was built at Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd and completed in January, 1935 as an oil tanker for the Anglo Saxon Royal Dutch/Shell line. She was converted at Falmouth to a MAC ship, entering service in October 1943.

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.

At the end of the war, Acavus was reconverted to an oil tanker, and renamed IACRA in 1963. She served in this capacity until broken up for scrap in Italy in 1963.