Reiher was a 975 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1909 by Bremer Vulkan, Bremen, Germany for Argo Line.

[3] In December 1924, her captain was fined £10 with 10gns costs at the Thames Police Court, London for an offence under the Merchant Shipping Act 1906, having had an excessive deck cargo of mahogany logs which were improperly stored.

[3] On 14 April 1928, Soviet gold valued at £1,043,000 was transferred from the Norddeutscher Lloyd ocean liner Dresden to Reiher at a position 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

The transfer was to prevent the gold being seized by the French when Dresden docked at Cherbourg, Manche.

She sank the next day 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) south west of the Lindesnes Lighthouse (57°58′N 7°02′E / 57.967°N 7.033°E / 57.967; 7.033.