SS Assaye was built by Caird & Comapny, Greenock in 1899, for Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, as an 'intermediate' passenger service, but employed almost exclusively as a troopship. She was 7,396 groos tonnes, 4,484 net. She was launched 7th October 1899 and completed 17th December 1899. Advertised for a commercial voyage to Calcutta in January 1900, she was however taken up on completion as a Boer War transport, a notable passenger was General Cronje whom she took to St Helena as a prisoner of war, and for the Boxer Rising in China. During the the 1903/04 and 1904/05 seasons she was taken up for peacetime Indian trooping. On 20th March 1904 she was in collision in thick fog with the American steamer NEW YORK off Hurst Castle in the Solent. Her starboard bow was severely damaged and the bowsprit of NEW YORK was carried away. Repaired and returned to service. Through 1905/06 she was laid up at Southampton and then used a a troop ship again 1906/07 and 1907/08 (being laid up in between). In 1908 she made her first commercial sailings between Bombay and the Far East. Draught now 26ft 9½in; deadweight 6,810 tons, then on 19th AUgust 1914 she was hired by the Admiralty for service as a troopship and later a hospital ship. In 1921 she took troops to the Turkish troubles, and while in Constantinople collided (without much damage) with the Italian steamer UMBRIA. She was then used during 1923/27 as an Indian troop ship. In 1927she carried the Devonshire Regiment to the Shanghai disturbances as part of the Shanghai Defence Force. She was converted into a hospital ship in Hong Kong and the in 1928 she reverted to being a troopship to bring the Coldstream Guards home from Shanghai. On 9th May 1928 she was sold to Stavanger Skibs Ophugnings Co. A/S, Norway for £17,500 and on 17th May 1928 she sailed from Southend for Stavanger for demolition.