Partition of India million became homeless. However, many argue that the British were forced to expedite the Partition by events on the ground. Once in office, Mountbatten quickly became aware that if Britain were to avoid involvement in a civil war, which seemed increasingly likely, there was no alternative to partition and a hasty exit from India. Law and order had broken down many times before Partition, with much bloodshed on both sides. A massive civil war was looming by the time Mountbatten became Viceroy. After the Second World War, Britain had limited resources, perhaps insufficient to the task of keeping order. Another
RMS Viceroy of India 279 passengers were transferred to "Viceroy of India" as a precaution. On 12 November 1940 the Ministry of War Transport requisitioned "Viceroy of India" to be a troop ship. She returned to the River Clyde for the conversion. In 1942 "Viceroy of India" sailed in Convoy KMF-1A carrying Allied troops from Britain to invade French North Africa in Operation Torch. Early on 11 November 1942 she was returning empty from Algiers bound for Gibraltar. At 0524 hrs she was about northwest of Oran when fired a spread of four torpedoes at her. Two hit the ship, killing four crew members.