She was originally one of six ships ordered by the British Tanker Co., which were purchased on the stocks by the Admiralty prior to the Second World War.

Ordered by the British Tanker Company in 1936, Aldersdale was built by Cammell Laird and Co., Birkenhead and launched on 7 July 1937.

Returning to the UK, via Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December 1939, Aldersdale underwent repairs at Cardiff in January 1940.

She sustained damage from the cruiser HMS Aurora on her arrival on 24 April 1940, and returned to the UK via Iceland.

On 19 April 1941 she and RFA Oligarch were allocated to Fleet Attendant Duties in Norwegian waters, with Aldersdale the initial support ship for Halcyon-class minesweepers based in the Kola Inlet as escorts for homeward-bound Arctic convoys.

[1] Aldersdale returned to Reykjavík in Convoy UR 2, where on 25 December 1941 she suffered damage to her superstructure when she was fouled by the Norwegian tanker SS Svenor, which had broken adrift during a squall.

On 30 June she took over refuelling duties from RFA Gray Ranger, which had returned to port for repairs after a growler had split her bow open.

[1] On 4 July 1942 the Admiralty was concerned that heavy German fleet units were putting to sea to attack the convoy.