History

Empire MacDermott was built by Denny, launched 24 January 1944, and completed March 1944. She served as an escort in the Atlantic. Returned to merchant service postwar; named La Cumbre in 1948, then Parnon in 1959, Starlight in 1969. Became property of the Chinese government in 1976; further information and fate unknown.

Empire MacDermott  was a MAC conversion from a grain ship, similar to the Empire MacAlpine class.  These Merchant ships (bulk grain carriers) were built with flight decks to serve as bare minumum aircraft carriers as an emergency measure pending the availablilty of the US-built escort carriers. They operated with civilian crews, under merchant colours, and carried their regular cargo while serving as aircraft carriers. Their planes were primarily meant to attack long-range reconniassance aircraft to prevent tracking of convoys.

Empire MacDermott  returned to merchant service immediately following WWII. Became property of the Chinese government in 1976.

Battle Honours
No information

Captains
No information
 on Captains.

Squadrons and Aircraft
No information

Associations and Reunions
No information

Ship name	Empire MacDermott
Class	Empire MacAndrew & Empire MacRae Class (bulk grain carriers)
Type	Merchant aircraft carrier (MAC-ship)
Ships in Class	Empire MacAndrew, Empire MacDermott, Empire MacRae, Empire MacCallum
Launched
Tonnage	Displacement: 12,000 tons full load
Engines	Propulsion: Diesel, 1 shaft, 3,300 bhp
Speed in Knots	12.5
Armament	Armament: 1 4 inch, 2 40 mm, 4 20 mm
Crew Complement	107
Range
Length (ft/inches)	448
Beam (ft/inches)	60
Draught (ft/inches)	24.5
Flight Deck length (ft/inches)
Flight Deck width (ft/inches)
Armour	None
Number of aircraft carried	4
Fate of carrier
Notes

 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION   World Aircraft Carrier Lists and Photo Gallery - from 1913 to 2000. Naval History Information Center, Haze Gray & Underway Sturtivant, R & Ballance, T  (1994). 'The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1994 ISBN: 0 85130 223 8 The World’s Warships 1941 by Francis E. McMurtrie (1944). Jane's London 1941 1st ed.  Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II by Francis E. McMurtrie (Editor)(1984). 320 pages. Crescent Books; ISBN: 0517679639

        Last Modified: 23-2-2001

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