the mackinaw (wagb-83) was laid down on 20 march 1943 at toledo shipbuilding company in toledo, ohio, launched (sideways) on 4 march 1944, and commissioned on 20 december 1944. due to the wwii war efforts toledo area male workers were at an all time low. the shipyard opened their hiring to toledo area women, they initially hired 12 'helpers' within a short time and eventually hired over 100 women workers.