[1] Fraser had 20 corrugated furnaces with a combined grate area of 402 square feet (37 m2).

She worked between the Indian sub-continent, southern Africa, Australia, Britain and the Mediterranean without being part of a convoy[6] until 5 September 1940, when she sailed carrying general cargo from the Firth of Clyde to Methil with Convoy WN 13.

[8] Clan Fraser was one of the three fast merchant ships that took part in Operation Collar, a convoy to supply Malta and Alexandria.

[6] She then resumed independent sailing, first to South Africa and then via the Indian Ocean to Aden.

[11] On 6 April 1941 German forces invaded Greece and Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88 bombers led by Hans-Joachim 'Hajo' Herrmann attacked shipping in Piraeus.

[2] The shock of the blast was felt 15 miles (24 km) away in Athens, where doors were blown in; and in Psihiko, where windows were shattered.

[12] White hot débris detonated ΤΝΤ in other nearby ships, setting them and buildings ashore on fire.