War service
In September 1939 Oropesa was requisitioned as a troop ship.[2] However, she spent the next 16 months carrying general cargo and passengers.
On 27 September carrying general cargo she left Liverpool with Convoy OB 11: an outward-bound convoy which then dispersed in the North Atlantic.[7] On 2 December 1939 Oropesa left Halifax, Nova Scotia with Convoy HXF 11 bound for Liverpool.[8] The next day, about 70 nmi out of port she and the steam turbine cargo liner SS Manchester Regiment collided. 50 of the latter's crew were transferred to Oropesa and Manchester Regiment was taken in tow, but the cargo ship foundered and sank with a number of deaths.[4] Oropesa returned the survivors to Halifax.[8] On 12 January 1940 carrying general cargo Oropesa left Halifax again, this time with Convoy HXF 16, reaching Dover on 24 January.[9]
On 3 March 1940 Oropesa left Liverpool with Convoy OB 103.[10] Two days later, on 5 March, OB 103 joined Convoy OG 21F, which was bound for Gibraltar. Further out at sea Oropesa left OG 21F and continued independently to Bermuda.[11] On 7 May carrying general cargo Oropesa left Bermuda with Convoy BHX 41, which joined Convoy HX 41 at sea on 13 May.[12] HX 41 reached Liverpool on 23 May.[13]
On 15 June 1940 carrying general cargo Oropesa left Liverpool with Convoy OB 168. Two days later, on 17 June, OB 168 formed Convoy OG 34F, which was bound for Gibraltar.[14] Further out at sea Oropesa left OG 34F and continued independently to Panama.[15] She returned with another general cargo, sailing independently as far as Bermuda. On 27 August she left Bermuda with Convoy BHX 69, which joined Convoy HX 69 at sea on 1 September.[16] HX 69 reached Liverpool on 12 September.[17]
Oropesa's next destination was Suez in Egypt. In June Italy had entered the War and France had surrendered. This made the Mediterranean unsafe for Allied ships, so thereafter nearly all Allied merchant shipping to the Near East and the Indian Ocean went via the South Atlantic and around the Cape of Good Hope. On 3 October 1940 Oropesa left Liverpool with Convoy WS 3A, which reached Cape Town, South Africa on 27 October.[18] On 29 October she continued from Cape Town with Convoy WS 3, which reached Suez on 16 November.[19]
