In November 1944 "Empire Crossbow" became H.M.S. Sainfoin, she re-commissioned, and sailed to Greenock Scotland taking on extra crew, and the Royal Marines of 553 Flotilla, many of who had sailed on "Crossbow", and remarked, " It was like coming home". Early in January 1945 we sailed for the Far East to become part of "Zipper Force" under Lord Mountbatten's flag. The Ultimate goal - To take part in the invasion of Japan.

H.M.S. Sainfoin was now commanded by A. Longmuire D.S.C. R.D. Commander R.N.R. who was well liked and respected by all on board and voted best skipper in the R.N. by her crew. After arrival in Bombay "Sainfoin" was ordered to Karachi, and there went into exhaustive training in landing troop exercises. Having met with full approval we then began life seriously.Shuttling between Colombo, Madras and Calcutta, the Sainfoin landed troops in Rangoon, Penang, Port Dixon, Port Swettenham (Burma and Malaya), Medan (Sumatra) and eventually Singapore.