In 1940, the Llangibby Castle transported a number of Germans, who had been deported from Kenya and Tanganyika, due to the commencement of the Second World War, to Genoa, Italy.

[4] While sailing as a troopship, the Llangibby Castle was torpedoed on 16 January 1942 by the German submarine U-402, under the command of Siegfried von Forstner, during U-402's second patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

She arrived in Britain on 13 April, having sailed 3400 miles with a damaged stern and steering by engines, an achievement which led to her master, a man named Bayer, being awarded the OBE.

[4] After full repairs, Llangibby Castle returned to service as a troopship, and took part in Operation Torch on 9 November 1942, during which she was hit by a shell from a shore battery, and had one man killed.

At 0630hrs on Saturday 28 November, she sailed fully loaded destination unknown, thought to be either the Pacific islands, Europe or Africa.

Sailing orders were open on the journey and as the large invasion convoy passed Ireland it made a turn towards the Mediterranean Sea to land troops at Bon (now Annaba), Tunisia, right on the doorstep of Axis held North Africa.

However, at 2230hrs Friday 4 December whilst zig-zagging in the darkness as she entered the Mediterranean, she was involved in a serious collision and Boat Stations were immediately sounded and all troops onboard made preparations for the lifeboats.