Pre-commission
She was laid down on 15 April 1941 as a C3-S-A1, a second replacement freighter, Mormacmail for Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc. Under Maritime Commission contract at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Hull 293. She also was purchased and converted prior delivery and on 7 January 1942 she was named Altamaha but the name was cancelled on 17 March 1942. She was launched on 4 April 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Phillip Seymour, wife of Captain Seymour. She was redesignated ACV on 20 August 1942. Acquired by the United States Navy on 31 October 1942, she was simultaneously transferred (via the Lend-Lease programme) to the United Kingdom and the same day. She was renamed HMS Battler and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 15 November 1942.
Read more about this topic: HMS Battler (D18)