destined for a dual role as food carrier and issuing ship, "calamares" cleared san francisco, california, 23 april 1943 for noumea, new caledonia, where from 13 may to 11 june she issued provisions to the fleet units operating from this headquarters of the south pacific. in june, she sailed to auckland, new zealand, for fresh stores, and from noumea "calamares" made a cruise of the south pacific bases, supplying navy and army forces ashore. returning to san francisco in august, the storeship operated between the west coast and pearl harbor until 22 november, when she sailed for the south pacific again, carrying christmas delicacies as well as the usual stores for ships based on funafuti, ellice islands, and nouméa.