- USS Leopard (IX-122)
USS "Leopard" (IX-122), an "Armadillo"-class tanker designated an
unclassified miscellaneous vessel , was the Nth ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for theleopard , a large and ferocious spotted cat of southern Asia and Africa. Her keel was laid down as "William B. Bankhead" on5 October 1943 byDelta Shipbuilding Company , inNew Orleans, Louisiana , under aMaritime Commission contract (T. Z-ET1-S-C3). She was renamed "Leopard" on27 October 1943 , launched on15 November 1943 sponsored by Mrs. William B. Bankhead, acquired by the Navy24 December 1943 , and commissioned on26 December 1943 with Lieutenant G. C. Foltz in command.Originally designed to carry dry cargo, "Leopard" was converted to a tanker, and departed
Key West, Florida , on18 January 1944 for the southwest Pacific. ArrivingBora Bora ,Society Islands , on27 February , she performed harbor fueling operations out ofAustralia andNew Guinea until mid-April when she sailed for theAdmiralty Islands . For the rest of the war, "Leopard" continued harbor fueling duties in the vicinity ofNew Guinea .Following V-J Day, the tanker departed
Seeadler Harbor on30 August 1945 and arrivedManila Bay on9 September where she performed similar services. "Leopard" remained in thePhilippines until she sailed for theUnited States on19 March 1946 arrivingNorfolk, Virginia , on11 May . She decommissioned there21 June 1946 and was delivered to theWar Shipping Administration the same day for disposal. Her name was struck from theNaval Vessel Register on3 July 1946 .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l5/leopard.htm
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