[1] Strathnaver was launched on 5 February 1931,[4] completed in September 1931[1] and left Tilbury on her maiden voyage on 2 October.

The company chose the same propulsion system for Strathnaver and Strathaird, but the "Straths" were slightly larger ships, their turbo-electric equipment was much more powerful[1] and they were about 3 knots (5.6 km/h) faster than Viceroy of India.

[1] The boilers had a combined heating surface of 56,000 square feet (5,203 m2) and supplied steam at 425 lbf/in2 to two turbo generators.

[8] In first class the ship had 262 single-berth rooms with the rest double-berthed, a special suite on "D" deck had 12 de luxe cabins each with a private bathroom.

[9] The ship was launched at Barrow on 5 February 1931 by Lady Janet Bailey, daughter of Lord Inchcape, the Chairman of P&O.

[4][clarification needed] The dummy first and third funnels were removed,[4] which made Strathnaver look more like her later sisters Stratheden, Strathallan and Strathmore.

[13] P&O sold Strathnaver and Strathaird for scrap to Shun Fung Ironworks of Hong Kong.