HMCS Mackenzie
by Joe Poutre

1/720 HMCS Mackenzie (Revell)

A bit of fun. This is a quick build of the Revell 1/720 USS Tarawa, with a few modifications and a special paint scheme. It's basically out-of-box, minus a few bits as described in her story. Her aircraft are out of the parts box, with decals by MikeGrantDecals

Here's the story behind it:

HMCS Mackenzie

After the infamous "Katie" tank-napping incident, the Canadian government had one their rare moments of lucidity on military matters, and decided they needed their own sealift for their peacekeeping forces. After investigating the requirements, those in charge settled on a group of three ships: two ro-ros, one for aircraft and one for armored transport, and a supply vessel equipped to carry beachable landing craft for those areas with underdeveloped or non-existant port facilities.

Bids were requested, and surprisingly, one came in from the US Navy. They offered their "lowest mileage" LHA, USS Belleau Wood, for a cost similar to the price buying and upgrading three commercial ships. The USN argued that the ship had almost two decades of service left in a reduced-use mode, would allow the Canadian forces to integrate into NATO exercises because C3 facilities were already installed, the ship was built to military specs, thereby being more survivable, one ship cost less to run than three, and the ship was available right away.

There was much debate in Ottawa, unsurprisingly, but after the USN offered to overhaul the ship and add a beer cellar, the matter was settled.

USS Belleau Wood was handed over to the Canadian naval forces after a six-month comprehensive overhaul. The USN even included a pair of LCU landing craft, which were becoming surplus with the introduction of newer vessels.

The major changes in Canadian service were to repaint her, add French labels per Canadian regulations, reduce the ship's weaponry to just a pair of Phalanxes and pintle-mounted machine guns, restock the cellar with real beer, and rechristen the vessel after the nineteenth century Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie.

She was not given an aircraft carrier designation, since she was not to serve as one despite her appearance. Instead, she was designated a transport vessel. Much was made of her medical and maintenance facilities, that she could sail to a disaster area and provide humanitarian aid, or transport, supply and command a peacekeeping group without need of local facilities.

One enterprising young airman did some calculations, and discovered that an unloaded CF-118 with a medium fuel load could take off from the LHA, given the entire deck to run and the ship being ballasted down aft. She proposed it as a way to transport the fighter-bombers if needed, though not operate them. When challenged on how the aircraft would be brought home, she responded that wires could be installed as on US carriers, since the CF-118s still had their tailhooks. The landings could be carried out slowly and deliberately with lightly-loaded aircraft, one at a time, with time in between to strike down each plane. After testing, the Canadian naval command discovered she was right, and had a special kit developed to install a temporary three wire landing setup on board.