From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

A constellation of the Southern Hemisphere.

AK - 70: dp. 4,023 l. 441'6" b. 56'11"

dr. 28'4" s. 12 k. cpl. 198 a. 1 x 5", 1 x 3"

cl. Crater

Crater (AK-70) was launched as John James Audubon 8 October 1942 by Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. M. E. C. Wetzel; transferred to the Navy 22 October 1942, and commissioned 31 October 1942, Lieutenant Commander R. Dodd, USNR, in command.

Clearing San Francisco 10 November 1942, Crater delivered cargo to Efate and Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Noumea, New Caledonia before arriving at Wellington, New Zealand, 28 June 1943 to repair and reload. Crater continued to carry cargo from New Zealand and other supply bases to Guadalcanal and throughout the Solomons until 21 June 1944, when she sailed to operate in the Marshalls and Marianas through the summer. She returned to Guadalcanal, resuming operations in the southwest Pacific until 1 March 1945, when she cleared for overhaul at San Francisco. She delivered cargo from the west coast at Samar, P.I., and departed 26 July for Auckland. Crater carried cargo from Auckland and Brisbane, Australia, to Saipan, the Philippines, Manus, Noumea, and Eniwetok until 5 February 1946, when she sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 24 February. After a voyage to San Pedro, Calif., Crater was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor 25 June 1946, and was transferred to the Maritime Commission the next day.