The British passenger steam liner SS Leasowe Castle was built between 1915 and 1917 at Cammell Laird shipyards in Birkenhead.

The ship was originally to be called Vasilissa Sophia and destined for the National Steam Navigation Company of Greece.

[2] On 20 April 1917 the ship was torpedoed and damaged by German submarine SM U-35, 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) north west of Gibraltar.

The wake of a torpedo was spotted by the crew approaching from the port side and the ship managed to turn to limit the damage.

[3] Soon after midnight on 27 May 1918 the ship was struck by a torpedo from German submarine SM UB-51 in the Mediterranean Sea, 104 nautical miles (193 km; 120 mi) north west of Alexandria, Egypt (31°30′N 27°56′E / 31.500°N 27.933°E / 31.500; 27.933).