Cape Berkeley was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California as a Type C1-S-AY1 Landing Ship, Infantry.

[5] She was chartered by the Ministry of War Transport and operated under the management of Cunard White Star Line.

HMS Emipire Battleaxe then sailed to Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, arriving on 25 October.

She departed Bougainville Island on 14 January 1945 and sailed to Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, arriving on 2 February.

She arrived at Lingayen Gulf on 18 February where her Landing Craft were involved in the retaking of the Philippines from the Japanese.

HMS Empire Battleaxe departed Lingayen Gulf with a consignment of American ex-PoWs, arriving at Sydney, Australia on 19 March.

[5] After the war ended she was returned to the Ministry of Transport in 1946, her name reverting to Empire Battleaxe.

In July 1946, the crew were told that on arrival at Naples, Italy from Alexandria, Egypt, the ship would sail for Liverpool, United Kingdom.

The explanation given was that the original orders had been issued because it was thought that ships being sent to relieve Empire Battleaxe would not reach Naples in time.