SS Aquila was a cargo ship built in 1940 as SS Duke of Sparta by William Gray & Company at West Hartlepool on Tees-side, UK. She was launched in July 1940 and completed in October of that year. At the same time W. Gray also built her sister ship, SS Duke of Athens. Duke of Athens and Duke of Sparta were built for S. Livanos' Trent Maritime Co Ltd. In 1951 Duke of Sparta was sold to Grimaldi Brothers of Naples, Italy.