She was built in 1946 as Empire Dunbar by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham for the Ministry of Transport and completed at Wave Laird.

[4] The ship was propelled by two Metrovick-type double reduction geared steam turbines, which were fed by three drum boilers.

[1] She was launched on 3 April 1946 and completed on 30 September 1946 as RFA Wave Laird for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

On 17 March 1947, boiler problems left her adrift in gale-force winds 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the Tasker Rock, Ireland.

Assistance was requested as the ship suffered heavy damage, which had to be repaired before her cargo was able to be discharged at Old Kilpatrick.

On 19 July 1951, she was involved in a collision with the Royal Interocean Line's ocean liner Boissevain off Singapore.

In January 1954, Wave Laird was one of the naval vessels supporting the Royal Yacht Gothic in Australia.

On 31 October 1956, Wave Laird was one of 35 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships deployed as part of Operation Musketeer.