The Prindylla spent World War One patrolling the Pacific hunting for the German merchant cruisers that were out there in 1914-15. Once that menace had been neutralised the Prindylla transferred to the Escort Fleet covering convoys from Mu to Panama. Maybe not a glamorous job but a necessary one.
1917 and the information comes back from Britain on the trials with aircraft landing on and taking off moving ships. The Admiralty looked around the forces, available in Murovian waters, and those eyes fell on the Prindylla. It would be perfect for the trials for Amazonia. The Prindylla was taken into dock and fore and aft landing and taking off platforms were fitted. The Prindylla performed successful trials with this equipment. Further news out of Britain told of all the ships that were being converted to what would become full aircraft carriers. Eagle, Argus, Neptune, Goliath and the to be built from the keel up Hermes. The Amazon Navy would convert the Prindylla and Smyrna, anything else would need to be new builds.
While the conversion of the Prindylla was completed in 1922, it was not accepted into the Navy till after another two years of trials, during which it was decided the ship should be fitted with bulges to offset the extra weight of the Hangar and Flight deck. Prindylla spent the next ten years as the training carrier for the air fleet. In 1934 it became a frontline carrier for 18 months while the Smyrna underwent its rebuild. After that the Prindylla returned to its training duties.
The original conversion was fairly hastily done and the carrying capacity was never great. Cramming them in the ship could take 18 aircraft in its hangar. Thought was given in the early 1930's to rebuild the Prindylla but the ship was already 20 years old and it was at its most useful as the training carrier. In training mode the ship would only have 12 to 14 aircraft aboard. This retention of its as built capabilities also went with the ships armament. Four single 4" AA guns and eight single 2 pounder AA guns was felt to be all that was required. The Prindylla was not expected to be in harms way.
World War Two service saw the ship continuing its training duties but once every three to four months it would join the 'tanker' convoy running from Mu to Panama. That service was continued till 1942 when an escort carrier or two were eventually set up to cover all the convoys going to and from Panama.
1944 and the Prindylla's machinery broke down. The ship was tied up and used for an accommodation ship for two years when it was discarded and scrapped.
