On 27 August 1939 the passenger ship Hector of the Alfred Holt & Co, Liverpool was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completed on 20 December 1939.

Tonnage: 11198 BRT
Armament: 6x 152mm, 2x 76mm
Speed: 15.5 knots

Career:
January 40 - July 40: New Zealand Station
August 40 - February 42: East Indies Station
March 42 - April 42: Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean)

On 5 April 1942 she was drydocked in Colombo, Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka) for decommissioning. Bombed & severely hit in the Japanese carrier attack against the harbour of Colombo, caught fire and was abandoned.
Though nominally returned to her owners as of 20 April, the wreck was only refloated in 1946 and beached 5 cables from Uswetakeiyawa church, 5 miles north of Colombo. Condemned after survey and broken up on the beach.