The Empire Allenby was a 9,904 ton cargo liner which was built in 1944.

Empire Allenby was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland[1] as yard number 633.

[2] Empire Allenby was built for the Ministry of War Transport and operated under the management of Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, who traded as Prince Line Ltd.[1] In 1946, Empire Allenby was sold to the Union Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd, who traded as the Union-Castle Line.

Although Drakensberg Castle was a fast ship compared to others in the Union-Castle Line fleet, she was expensive to operate and not suitable for use as a tramp.

Empire Allenby had the UK Official Number 180157 and used the Code Letters GJTM.