The ship was powered by two Brown-Sulzer type diesel engines with a total output of 9,300 hp (6,900 kW), turning twin propellers.

[3] At the start of the Second World War the ship was used for transporting children from Britain to Australia before being converted into a troopship.

[3] Rangitiki was straddled twice by German heavy shells, but was then obscured by a smoke screen laid by the other ships and escaped without any casualties amongst her 230 crew and 25 passengers, including women and children.

Her radio officer was able to transmit a warning signal that was picked up and repeated by a station in Long Island.

[1] Both before and after its maiden voyage the ship was found to have stability issues especially when sailing in ballast so modifications including reducing the height of the ship by removing most of the bridge deck, shortening the funnels and adding more permanent ballast were made.