Empire Defender was a 5,649 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1910 as Freienfels by JC Tecklenborg AG, Wesermünde, Germany. She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1914, passing to the Admiralty. In 1920, she was passed to the Secretary of State for India.She was sold to Greece in 1925 and renamed Hadiotis. In 1928, she was sold to Italy and renamed Felce. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).