"Thorøy" was built in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1893, initially sailing under the name "Snowflake". She was renamed "Kremlin" in 1913 and then "Velløy" in 1922. She was bought on 24 August 1925 by Bryde &amp; Dahls Hvalfangerselskap A/S and renamed "Thorøy". She survived in allied hands after the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, and was soon pressed into service to bring supplies to the UK. She often travelled in convoy to lessen the risk of attacks by German U-boats. Her first convoy was as part of OA-169, which sailed from Southend on 17 June 1941. The convoy reached its dispersion point on 19 June and "Thorøy" made her way to Falmouth.