In 1942 she took part in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Vichy French North Africa, where she was sunk by enemy aircraft.

[1] Vickers-Armstrongs built Awatea at Barrow-in-Furness in England, launching her on 25 February 1936 and completing her that July.

On one trans-Tasman voyage she averaged 23.35 knots (43.24 km/h) over a distance of 576 nautical miles (1,067 km).

[4] On 5 August 1936 Awatea left Britain on her maiden voyage to New Zealand, sailing via the Panama Canal.

She began her trans-Tasman passenger service on 15 September 1936 when she left Wellington for Sydney.

6 Commando to North Africa for Operation Torch in November 1942, to defeat Vichy French forces.