In December of 1939 Awatea transported the advanced guard of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Egypt. July 1940 she went to Manila Philippines and embarked a large number of women and children who had been evacuated from Hong Kong and elsewhere in the Far East and landed them in Sydney. In September 1941 Awatea was requisitioned by the British Ministry of War Transport and fitted out as a troop transport to the Far East returning from Bombay to England with women and children refugees from the East Indies.
The Awatea was then fitted out as a Landing Ship Infantry (L.S.I.) to take part in the Allied landings in Northwest Africa to seize the key ports of Algiers, Oran and Casablanca known as operation "Torch". This great enterprise, one of the major strategic strokes of the war, gave the United Nations control of Northwest Africa and won back complete control of the Mediterranean. A total of 460 British and American Warships and 190 Merchant Ships, including many well-known passenger liners took part in the initial assaults. Two advance convoys and two advance forces totalling 71ships and a main body of 180 vessels and 84 escorts in six convoys sailed from the United Kingdom for Gibraltar. The movements of this great Armada were coordinated with the passage across the Atlantic of a United States Task Force numbering more than 100 warships and transports. So well timed were the movements that more than 340 ships passed within a few hours through the straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean.
Awatea carried the units of the 6th Commando Regiment and ten landing craft, she was part of one of the fastest convoys of the Eastern Task Force which included 67 Warships and 25 Merchant vessels, the convoy carried out the assault on Algiers.
Two days later on November 8th 1942 she sailed in another fast convoy escorted by destroyers for Bougie Bay 100 miles to the eastward. The landing at the port of Bougie Bay was unopposed, she then transported R.A.F. troops, petrol and stores to Djidjelli to capture the airfield. The airfield was occupied by paratroops, fighter protection was restricted and the ships were subjected to heavy bombing by German aircraft, several being sunk and others damaged.
Awatea upon leaving her anchorage at Djidjelli was attacked by several waves of German Bombers. She fought back gallantly but was hit several times she was badly damaged and causing her to catch fire, the ship was abandoned and sank during the night, some of her crew got away others were taken off by a British destroyer.
The official recognition of the services of the Awatea in operation "Torch" was made when H.M. King George VI approved the following number of awards to Merchant Mariners.
Awards
- Distinguished Service Order (1)
- Distinguished Service Cross (3)
- Distinguished Service Medal (2)
- Mentioned in Despatches (13)
The follow awards were made to service personnel:
- Distinguished Service Medal (2)
- Mentioned in despatches (1)
