Cambridge was built by JC Tecklenborg in Wesermünde, Germany in 1916 as the Vogtland. The ship was a twin-screw steel steamer, 524.5 feet in length, 56.7 feet in breadth, 37.3 feet in depth and of 10846 tons. Completed in 1919, the ship was surrendered to the British in 1922 as part of the war reparations following World War I, sold to the Federal Steam Navigation Company, Ltd, and renamed.