SS California was a British 16,792 GRT steam turbine ocean liner built in Glasgow in 1923 for the Anchor Line.

The California carried passengers between Glasgow and New York via Derry and Boston, and she made about 20 crossings in winter seasons from Liverpool to Bombay.

On the evening of 10 July the convoy rendezvoused with the Canadian destroyer HMCS Iroquois 500 miles (800 km) WSW of Land's End.

On 11 July 1943 when about 300 miles (480 km) west of Vigo, Spain, the convoy was attacked by three Focke-Wulf Fw 200 aircraft of Kampfgeschwader 40[3] from Merignac near Bordeaux.

It was feared the flames from the troopships would attract U-boats, so in the early hours of 12 July[4] they were sunk by Royal Navy torpedoes in position 41°15′N 15°24′W / 41.250°N 15.400°W / 41.250; -15.400.