Quistconck was a 5,144 GRT Design 1022 Hog Islander that was laid down as Red Jacket in 1918 by the Stone & Webster subsidiary American International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).

In 1941, she was passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Falcon.

The ship was built in 1918 by the American International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[1] The United States Official Number 217144 and Code Letters LNMB were allocated.

[5] In 1933, Quistconck was sold to Lykes Brothers - Ripley Steamship Co Inc.[1] Her port of registry was changed to New Orleans, Louisiana, and the vessel engaged in freight service between the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean.

In 1937, she was transferred to Lykes Coastwise Lines Inc.[7] Several photos of this vessel can be found in the September, 1937 issue of Fortune magazine, including a picture of the vessel loading scrap steel and a photo of Chief Engineer Charles B.

The United Kingdom Official Number 168079 and Code Letters GNCN were allocated.

[9] She reached the United Kingdom as a member of Convoy SC 20, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 22 January 1941 and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 8 February.

Her captain was criticized by the Convoy Commodore for very bad station keeping and signalling.

She was carrying scrap steel and special cargo,[13] and arrived at the Clyde on 28 June.

She left the convoy off Halifax and sailed to New York, United States,[16] arriving on 19 November.

[11] Empire Falcon was a member of Convoy HX 167, which departed on 27 December and arrived at Liverpool on 11 January 1942.

[11] Empire Falcon sailed on 25 February to join Convoy ON 70,[11] which had departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at sea on 15 March.

She was bound for New York,[19] which was reached on 20 April following calls at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland.

[11] Carrying general cargo, she joined Convoy HX 187, which departed on 26 April and arrived at Liverpool on 8 May.

She was carrying a cargo of military stores bound for Cape Town, South Africa,[22] which was reached on 3 July.

She sailed on 30 September for Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, arriving on 24 October.

[24] She then joined Convoy GZ 16, which departed that day and arrived at Cristóbal, Canal Zone on 21 December.

[25] Empire Falcon then sailed to Balboa, Panama, from where she departed on 23 December for Valparaíso, Chile, arriving on 4 January 1943.

[11] She was a member of Convoy DN 16, which sailed on 10 February and dispersed at sea two days later.

Empire Falcon was towing Daltonhall,[29] which had been damaged when she struck a wreck on arrival at Tripoli on 11 April.

[11] She joined Convoy AKD 2, which departed on 30 September and arrived at Kilindini, Kenya on 10 October.

Empire Falcon departed on 27 November for Lourenço Marques, Mozambique, where she arrived on 2 December.

[11] She joined Convoy GUS 28, which departed on 15 January and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 15 February.

[40] Empire Falcon left the convoy at Takoradi, Gold Coast on 27 February.

Empire Falcon was in the portion of the convoy that formed KMS 52G and arrived at Gibraltar on 6 June.

She left the convoy at Algiers, Algeria due to defects,[45] arriving on 23 June.

[11] Empire Falcon sailed on 25 May to join Convoy GUS 91,[11] which had departed from Oran, Algeria on 22 May and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 8 June.

[11] In 1946, Empire Falcon was sold to Rowland & Marwoods Steamship Co Ltd and renamed Barnby.

In 1952, Barnby was sold to Societa de Navigazione Maliveras SA, Panama and renamed Mariandrea.