 "Empire Cheetah" departed on her first transatlantic voyage under her new name when she sailed with convoy OB 288 on 18 February 1941.After the convoy came under attack by German bombers and the convoy escorts departed, the convoy dispersed.Although nine convoy ships were sunk by six German and two Italian submarines on 23–24 February, "Empire Cheetah" safely reached her destination of Philadelphia on 10 March.