One of the more innovative implementations of the Swordfish was its use in combination with merchant aircraft carriers ("MAC ships"). These were 20 civilian cargo or tanker ships modified to carry three or four aircraft each on anti-submarine duties with convoys. Three of these vessels were Dutch-manned, and several Swordfish of 860 (Dutch) Naval Air Squadron were typically deployed on board. The others were manned by pilots and aircrew from 836 Naval Air Squadron, at one time the largest squadron operating the type, being equipped with a total of 91 aircraft.