The Ministry of War Transport requisitioned Nova Scotia as a troopship in 1941. She initially sailed in convoy from Britain to Freetown, then continued independently through waters considered comparatively safe. In 1942 she carried American troops through the Red Sea to Massawa in British-occupied Eritrea and took aboard Italian prisoners. After calling at Aden, she continued unescorted toward Durban with prisoners, civilian internees, and mail. U-177 found her proceeding in a straight line off Natal, where assumptions about safety had left her without either convoy protection or zigzagging.
Notable Point · 2:52:24-2:54:25
Nova Scotia's independent route beyond Freetown
Nova Scotia left convoy protection at Freetown and later sailed unescorted toward Durban with Italian prisoners and internees.