Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Musi wa24 Nyamavhuvhu 1939, akaendeswa kuhondo uye akashandurwa kuva Armed Merchant Cruiser. Akashongedzerwa ne 8 x 6-inch (152mm) uye 2 x 3-inch (76mm) pfuti dzehondo, akava HMS "Ascania" nenhamba yepennant F68. Akafamba nechikepe neHalifax Escort Force uye gare gare neNorth Atlantic Escort Force pabasa rekuchengetedza. Kubva muna November 1941 kusvika muna September 1942 akaendeswa kunzvimbo yeNew Zealand. Muna October 1942, iye akadzokera kuUK uye akanga basa somunhu Troopship kubudikidza Ministry of War Transport. Gore rakatevera, "Ascania" yakagadziridzwa kuva Landing Ship Infantry uye yakabatanidzwa muKupinda kweSicily muna 1943, uye Anzio Landings uye
kumhara kumaodzanyemba kweFrance muna 1944.