Official Number:                      172760

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Taikoo Dock & Engineering Co, Hong Kong

Pennant No:                           

Launched:                               December 1939

Into Service:                            December 1939

Out of service:                         13 August 1942

Fate:                                      13 August 1942 torpedoed & sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of a group of  additional  ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during during WW2 to augument the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

December 1939 launched by Taikoo Dock & Engineering Co, Hong Kong as Yard Nr: 277 named Glenorchy for Glen Line Ltd., Liverpool. Requisitioned for Admiralty service as a fast Fleet Supply ship, initially on commercial service

2 January 1940 sailed Hong Kong independently for Shanghai arriving 5 January 1940

11 January 1940 sailed Shanghai independently to Hong Kong arriving 13 January 1940

15 January 1940 sailed Hong Kong independently to Singapore arriving 19 January 1940

June 1940 after the entry of Italy into the War she was earmarked for supply work in the Mediterranean and was commissioned as HMS GLENORCHY. Participated in the Malta Convoys, including two solo dashes from Alexandria

1941 returned to the UK for the fitment of extra AA armament

3 August 1942 sailed from the Clyde fully laden with stores for Malta

10 August 1942 joiuned Convoy WS21S – known as Operation Pedestal – as one of fifteen merchantmen under heavy Naval escort

13 August 1942 torpedoed and sunk by German E-boat five miles NW of Kelibia Lighthouse, Tunisia. Only five of the original fifteen ships reached Malta