Santa Fe was a Chilean Liberty ship which was built in 1943 as L. H. McNelly.

She was operated under the management of the Parry Navigation Co.[3] Her port of registry was Houston and the Code Letters KTST were allocated, as was the United States Official Number 244538.

[6] She left the convoy and put in to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dominion of Canada,[5] She joined Convoy HF 98, which departed from Halifax on 27 January and arrived at Saint John, New Brunswick two days later.

[7] L. H. McNelly sailed to the Hampton Roads, from where she joined Convoy UGS 34,[5] which departed on 23 February and arrived at Port Said, Egypt, on 20 March.

[9] She departed from Calcutta on 30 April as a member of Convoy CJ 26, which arrived at Colombo on 9 May.

[5] L. H. McNelly departed from New York on 25 July with Convoy HX 301, which arrived at Liverpool on 8 August.

[12] She left the convoy and put in to Oban, Argyllshire, United Kingdom on 8 August.

She subsequently sailed to Southend, Essex,[5] from where she departed on 23 August as a member of Convohy ETM 65,[5] which arrived at the Seine Bay the next day.

Her port of registry was Den Haag and the Code Letters PIXH were allocated.

[3] Her port of registry was changed to Rotterdam and the Code Letters PIBG were allocated.