Sacandaga was built by American International Shipbuilding Co, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as yard number 494.

[4] In 1939, Black Heron was serving Baltimore, Boston, Newport News, New York, and Norfolk in the United States and Antwerp, in Belgium with Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

[5] On 10 January 1941, a fire broke out aboard Black Heron whilst she was moored at Brooklyn Pier, New York.

[1] Her port of registry was London and she was placed under the management of Cunard White Star Line Ltd.[7] Empire Barracuda was a member of a number of convoys in the Second World War.

[11] On 15 December 1941, Empire Barracuda was torpedoed by U-77 under the command of Heinrich Schonder and sunk at 35°30′N 06°17′W / 35.500°N 6.283°W / 35.500; -6.283 while on a voyage from Gibraltar to Cape Town and Suez.

[12] She was powered by a double reduction geared steam turbine of 600 horsepower (450 kW) which was built by General Electric Corp, Schenectady, New York.