On 22 May 1941 "Rodney" and four destroyers were part of the escort for the ocean liner as she set sail for Halifax. The battleship was scheduled to continue onwards to Boston for repairs and a refit. To this end the ship carried some of the needed materials, such as boiler tubes and three octuple "pom-pom" mounts intended for use in her refit; other cargo included three or four crates of the Elgin Marbles. She also carried 521 military passengers bound for Halifax, as well as an American assistant naval attaché conveying important documents back to the United States. "Britannic" was taking civilians to Canada and would be bringing Canadian troops and airmen back to Britain.