 She was renamed "Leopard" on 27 October 1943, launched on 15 November 1943 sponsored by Mrs. William B. Bankhead, acquired by the Navy 24 December 1943, and commissioned on 26 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, on 18 January 1944 for the southwest Pacific.Arriving Bora Bora, Society Islands, on 27 February, she performed harbor fueling operations out of Australia and New Guinea until mid-April when she sailed for the Admiralty Islands.