Hello Jeff and welcome,
Regarding your father's trip on a troopship, I believe she was the ss REINA DEL PACIFICO official number 162339 built in 1931 for Pacific Steam Navigation Company, Liverpool in 1931. She was broken up at Newport on 11.5.1958.
Troopship Duties -1939-46
These included expedition to, and re-embarkation from Norway - 1940. Trips to Suez via Cape Town.
Transportation of the 4th Indian Division from Egypt to Port Sudan for the attack on Ethiopia - Jan 1941. Landing craft added for North African invasion, and transported elements of 1st U.S. Division to Oran assault - Nov 1942. Transported elements of 51st Highland Division to landings at Avola, Sicily - Jul 1943.
Later trips between Britain and Bombay, East Africa, and the Pacific. Most of the 18th Division left Liverpool on this ship in October 1941
Some nice photos of the ship here
Reina Del Pacifico-05
here
Reina Del Pacifico-02
Regards
Hugh