Norvarg was a 4,748 GRT Design 1014 refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Rotarian by the Todd Dry Dock and Construction Company, Tacoma, Washington, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).

[2] She was in service by January 1921, as she arrived at Buenos Aires, Argentina on 4 February from Tacoma.

[7] for $173,025 with special provisions (restricted operation in designated trade route)[8] and renamed Condor in 1927.

[2] She departed from Seattle, Washington on 27 June for Portland, arriving the next day.

[2] The United Kingdom Official Number 168206 and Code Letters GLTL were allocated.

[13] She was due to join Convoy HX 90, which departed on 21 November and arrived at Liverpool on 5 December,[14] but arrived at Halifax too late and joined the next convoy, HX 91.

During the voyage, her engine broke down, and she had to be towed into Liverpool,[15] arriving on 18 December.

She was bound for Galveston, Texas, United States,[19] where she arrived on 25 September.

She was bound for Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada,[21] where she arrived on 4 January 1942.

She was carrying general cargo, bound for Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland,[24] where she arrived on 6 March.

[13] On 27 March,[1] Empire Elk was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed Norvarg.

[27] Norvarg departed on 28 July for Milford Haven, arriving two days later.

She was bound for the Hampton Roads, Virginia, United States,[32] and then New York, which was reached on 21 August.

She was carrying general cargo and steel,[33] She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 5 October,[27] joining Convoy BB 227, which departed the next day and arrived at Milford Haven on 7 October.

[35] Laden with a cargo of stores, she departed with Convoy SC 113 on 12 December.

[43] Norvarg left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 11 June,[27] joining Convoy BB 299, which departed that day and arrived at Milford Haven on 13 June.

[53] Norvarg then joined Convoy FS 1279, which departed that day and arrived at Southend on 23 November.

[55] She left the convoy at Hartlepool, Co Durham on 10 December and then rejoined it to sail to Hull, Yorkshire, where she arrived the next day.

Norvarg then joined Convoy KMS 37G,[27] which departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Gibraltar on 7 January 1944.

Norvarg left the convoy at Augusta, Sicily, Italy,[59] on 15 January.

She sailed on 23 April for sea trials, returning to North Shields the next day.

[66] She then sailed to Loch Ewe with Convoy EN 378, which departed on 2 May and arrived the next day.

[69] She then joined Convoy GAT 140, which departed that day and arrived at Trinidad on 12 June.

She left the convoy at San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic,[70] on 9 June.

Norvarg sailed on 18 June for Guantanamo Bay, arriving two days later.

She departed from the Clyde on 20 July and sailed to Liverpool, arriving three days later.

[76] Norvarg sailed on 29 December for the Belfast Lough, arriving the next day.

She then sailed to Santa María del Mar, from where she departed on 6 March for Guantanamo Bay, arriving the next day.

[27] Norvarg then joined Convoy BX 152, which departed on 23 March and arrived at Halifax two days later.

She sailed to The Downs, off the coast of Kent the next day, and then to Dundee, Angus, arriving on 27 June.