The engine was built by Rheinmetall-Börsig AG, Görlitz Rated at 1,200IHP,[2] it drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).

[2] Arsterturm was a Hansa A Type cargo ship built in 1944 as yard number 447 by Deutsche Werft, Finkenwerder, Germany for Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Hansa, Bremen.

[1] Her port of registry was Bremen and the Code Letters DOYO were allocated.

On 26 February 1945, Arsterturm was bombed, torpedoed and sunk by Allied aircraft south of Kristiansund, Norway with the loss of 31 of her crew.

She was on a voyage from Swinemünde to Tromsø, Norway with a cargo of ammunition.