Built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend in 1924 for the Cunard Steamship Co., Liverpool.
30/08/1939: Requisitioned by the Admiralty as HMS AURANIA, an armed merchant cruiser with 8 x 6ins guns.
14/07/1941: Collided with an iceberg & repaired at Newport News, USA.
21/10/1941: Hit by 2 torpedoes from U-Boat U123. Damaged but still afloat and steaming.
30/08/1942: Due to the damage, was sold to Admiralty & converted to a repair ship and renamed HMS Artifex.
07/01/1961: Broken up at La Spezia, Italy.