Athelstane was a 8,129 GRT tanker that was built in 1941 as Empire Flint by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Northumberland, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

The ship was built in 1941 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Northumberland, United Kingdom.

[4] The ship was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Northumberland, United Kingdom for the MoWT.

[1] The Code Letters BCKS and United Kingdom Official Number 165814 were allocated.

She was operated under the management of the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co. Ltd.[3] Empire Flint departed from the Tyne on 29 August 1941 to join Convoy EC 66,[5] which had sailed from Southend, Essex the previous day and arrived at the Clyde on 2 September.

[5] Laden with avgas,[7] Empire Flint sailed on 27 September for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving two days later.

[5] Laden with a cargo of petrol,[9] Empire Flint sailed the next day for Halifax, arriving on 3 December.

[5] Empire Flint sailed on 31 December to join Convoy ON 52,[5] which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at sea on 11 January 1942.

[5] Empire Flint sailed on 27 June for Barry, Glamorgan, arriving two days later.

She then joined Convoy KG 613, which sailed that day and arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on 23 November.

Shen sailed to Balboa, from where she departed on 28 November for Cape Town, South Africa, arriving on 30 December.

[23] Empire Flint sailed on 3 June for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arriving later that day.

[5] Empire Flint departed from Swansea on 6 July and arrived at Milford Haven the next day.

[26] She then joined Convoy NG 376, which sailed from New York on 26 July and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 2 August.

Empire Flint then joined Convoy GAT 78,[5] which departed that day and arrived at Trinidad on 8 August.

[30] She then joined Convoy FS 1224, which sailed that day and arrived at Southend, Essex on 20 September.

[32] She then joined Convoy EN 289, which sailed that day and arrived at Loch Ewe on 4 October.

[5] Carrying petrol, Empire Flint joined Convoy HX 264, which sailed that day and arrived at Liverpool on 17 November.

[5] Empire Flint departed from Brixham on 22 November to join Convoy PW 434.

[5] Empire Flint departed from Philadelphia on 1 January 1944 for the Hampton Roads, where she arrived the next day.

[5] Carrying gasoil and benzene, she departed with Convoy HX 289 on 27 April and arrived at Liverpool on 13 May.

[44] She returned to British waters with Convoy FBC 13, which departed on 29 June and arrived in the Bristol Channel on 1 July.

Empire Flint left the convoy and arrived at Hamble, Hampshire on 27 September.

Empire Flint sailed for Milford Haven on 7 October, arriving later that day.

[50] Carrying diesel and cased petrol, she returned with Convoy HX 317, which sailed on 30 October and arrived at Liverpool on 13 November.

Empire Flint departed from the Kola Inlet on 23 February with Convoy RA 65,[5] which arrived at Loch Ewe on 1 April.

[5] Carrying petrol, she returned with Convoy HX 354, which sailed on 3 May and arrived at Liverpool on 15 May.

[57] On 22 May, she sailed to join her final convoy, ON 304,[5] which had departed from Southend on 21 May and arrived at New York on 5 June.

She sailed four days later for Cape Henry, Virginia, United States, arriving on 15 July.

[5] In 1945, Empire Flint was sold to Athel Line Ltd and was renamed Athelstane, the fourth ship of that name.