MS Aramis was built for Messageries Maritimes for their Europe-Asia colonial route. She was unusual in that her funnels were square-shaped. She was built to carry 1,045 civilian passengers in first, second, third and steerage class. She was converted to an armed merchant cruiser when France entered World War II, until demilitarized following the Second Armistice at Compiègne. Aramis was seized by Japan in 1942, renamed Teia Maru (帝亜丸), and served as a repatriation ship in 1943. She served as a transport between Singapore and Japan in 1944 until sunk in the battle for convoy Hi-71 while assigned to the defense of the Philippines.