Ocean going tanker 'Macuba'

Oil tanker 'Macuba', 142,5 x 18,90 metres, was one of a series of ten oil tankers for the Dutch based comapny La Corona - which was owned by the oil company Shell. It was built in 1931 by the Rotterdam based shipyard of P. Smit Jr. After this series of ten ships, twenty more followed in the years from 1935, but the Smit yard only built one, the 'Macuba'. This series of ships was called the 'triple twelve' series: they carried 12.000 tonnes of oil, had a cruising speed of 12 knots and consumed 'just' 12 tonnes of fuel a day. During World War II nine sister ships of 'Macuba' were converted to so called MAC's: Merchant Aircraft Carriers. The bridge of the ship was removed and replaced by an aircraft carrier deck. There was room for three Swordfish planes that were able to launch torpedos. This way the MAC's provided defense for the convoi they were in. However the ships also kept their function for the transport of oil. Imagine being under attack knowing that you are on top of 12 million litres of oil... Of the series of in total 30 oil tankers Shell lost 12 ships during World War II. 'Macuba' however survided and stayed in service until 1957. The model of 'Macuba' measures (lxwxh) 137 x 19 x 42 cm.