 She was renamed "Ibex" on 27 October, launched on 15 November sponsored by Mrs. A. T. Olson, acquired by the Navy 13 December 1943; and commissioned the same day with Lieutenant Commander John L. Frazer in command.After shakedown off the West Coast, "Ibex" departed San Pedro, California, on 23 January 1944, arriving Noumea, New Caledonia, on 18 February.Operating as a floating storage ship she transported gasoline and lube oil in the South Pacific for the next eight months.