Glenorchy was one of four of a class of ships that were under construction or newly completed for Glen Line which had been taken overĀ by Alfred Holt &Co. in the late 1930s. The for ships became Fleet Supply Vessels for the Royal and Commonwealth Navies but from 1941 the other three were converted to LSIs while Glenorchy was selected to join the Pedestal Convoy of fast freighters in a last ditch attempt to re-supply Malta in 1942. Glenorchy was sunk in the attempt.