She was the first of three Blue Funnel Line ships to be named after Menestheus, the legendary king of Athens during the Trojan War.

Between 1929 and 1931 Blue Funnel Line had a class of five cargo ships built to the same design by four different UK shipyards.

Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company built her in Dundee as yard number 326, launching her in August 1929 and completing her that September.

[13] By mid-August 1940 she had joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh (port ZA), along with four other auxiliary minesweepers, including her sister ship Agamemnon, plus an escort of Royal Navy destroyers.

In February 1941 Menestheus was damaged by a drifting British mine, and Agamemnon towed her back to Kyle of Lochalsh.

The 1st Minelaying Squadron completed laying the Northern Barrage in late September 1943, and that was disbanded that October.

[14] Conversion included installation of a cinema and canteen, to be staffed by mercantile crews of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary,[15] and a bar, supplied by its own shipboard brewery.

Menestheus' Davy Jones' Bar sold English mild ale at 9d per pint.

[19] On 16 April she was at position 25°28′N 113°21′W / 25.467°N 113.350°W / 25.467; -113.350, off the Mexican island of Punta Eugenia in the Pacific, when an auxiliary generator in her engine room exploded,[20] causing a fire that forced her crew to abandon her.

The fire had completely gutted her, yet the ship's cat was found alive, and the animal made a full recovery.