SS Bergensfjord SS " Bergensfjord " was a Norwegian ocean liner that sailed for the Norwegian America Line to the United States . During the Second World War she was requisitioned by the British Ministry of War Transport and used as a troop ship . After the war she continued sailing as a Trans - Atlantic passenger liner , first for South American owners , then for an Israeli company . Norwegian American Line service . " Bergensfjord " was the second ship in the fleet of the Norwegian America Line , built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead , UK . Launched from its shipyard on 8 April 1913 , she was put into service in September 1913 , the same year as her sister ship , " Kristianiafjord " . She embarked on her maiden voyage on 25 September that year , sailing from Christiania ( Oslo ) through Christiansand , Stavanger and Bergen to New York . " Bergensfjord " had a tonnage of 10 , 699 , and was fitted with wireless and electric light . She could take 1 , 200 passengers – 100 first class , 250 second class and 850 third class . The Norwegian America Line vessels were ground - breaking in that they sailed directly from Norway to the United States , without stopping at ports in Continental Europe . This drastically shortened the time it took to travel from Norway to the United States , from up to four weeks by way of Europe to just one week with the N . A . L . ships . The level of comfort on board " Bergensfjord " , " Oslofjord " and " Stavangerfjord " was also much greater than on the ships previously available for emigrants . The Norwegian America Line experienced great success with its new ships and competed fortuitously with the DFDS Scandinavian America Line . " Bergensfjord " suffered an engine room explosion in July 1924 shortly after departing Bergen , forcing the crew to beach her . She resumed service in September of the same year after repairs had been carried out . In November 1925 she was refitted to carry 367 first class and 572 third class passengers , being further modified in September 1927 to hold 90 first class , 155 second class and 500 third class passengers . After engine modifications in 1933 her tonnage was increased to 11 , 015 tons . In January 1939 she was converted to carry only first and third class passengers , dispensing of the second class category . Second World War . " Bergensfjord " embarked on her last journey from Bergen to New York on 7 April 1940 , only two days before the German invasion of Norway . On arrival in New York on 15 April 1940 she was laid up . She was requisitioned by the British Ministry of War Transport in November 1940 and converted to a troop ship over the following months . The conversion to troop ship took place in Liverpool , and the ship departed Liverpool , via Glasgow , with the first troops in February 1941 , heading for Durban ( via Freetown ) . By the end of the war " Bergensfjord " had transported some 165 , 000 Allied troops , sailed and spent 919 days at sea . She had also carried several thousand Axis prisoners of war , as well as taking part in the repatriation of released Allied prisoners of war . As a troop ship she took part in the Allied invasion of French North Africa in 1942 and the invasion of Sicily in 1943 . During the latter operation she rescued survivors of the sunken hospital ship . In February 1946 she was used for a single voyage carrying GI brides to the United States , she was then returned to the Norwegian America Line . While repatriating some 1 , 400 coloured troops and 200 civilians from Europe to Jamaica " Bergensfjord " experienced a mutiny amongst the soldier passengers , which was put down with great difficulty . The Royal Navy warship HMS " Ballinderry " came to assist " Bergensfjord " , and the soldiers were interned after the ship arrived at Kingston . Post - war . In August 1946 she was sold to Panamanian Lines Inc . for emigration voyages to South America and renamed " Argentina " . She started her first voyage from Genoa in Italy to South America on 13 January 1947 . After modifications in 1949 she could take 126 first , 250 second and 574 third class passengers , beginning traffic between Genoa and Central America in September that year . In 1951 she started sailing between Italy and North American ports . " Argentina " was then sold to the Italian Home Lines in 1952 . In 1953 she was sold to Zim Israel Navigation Co . Ltd . and renamed " Jerusalem " , sailing the Israel - New York route . As " Jerusalem " was converted to carry 38 first class and 741 third class passengers and made 11 journeys from Haifa to North America . She was renamed " Aliya " for service on the Israel - Marseilles route in 1957 . She was sold to Italy for scrapping in August 1959 , arriving at La Spezia 13 August 1959 .