▁delivered ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁acquired ▁by ▁the ▁Navy ▁from ▁the ▁War ▁Sh ipping ▁Administration ▁under ▁a ▁bare ▁boat ▁char ter ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁and ▁was ▁renamed ▁D au ph in ▁and ▁designated ▁AP - 7 7 ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁September . ▁However , ▁to ▁avoid ▁confusion ▁with ▁a ▁Canadian ▁ship , ▁H M CS ▁D au ph in , ▁the ▁ship ▁was ▁again ▁renamed ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁September , ▁this ▁time ▁as ▁Th ur ston . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Commission ed ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁with ▁Captain ▁Jack ▁E . ▁Hur ff ▁in ▁command , ▁Th ur ston ▁was ▁converted ▁into ▁an ▁auxili ary ▁transport ▁by ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Bas in ▁Iron ▁Works ▁of ▁Brook lyn , ▁New ▁York , ▁and ▁was ▁ready ▁for ▁sea ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 4 th . ▁ ▁Operation ▁Tor ch ▁Following ▁sh aked own ▁training ▁out ▁of ▁Little ▁Creek , ▁Virginia , ▁and ▁landing ▁exer cis es ▁with ▁Army ▁units ▁at ▁Sol om ons ▁Island , ▁Maryland , ▁the ▁transport ▁sort ied ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁October ▁with ▁Task ▁Group ▁( T G ) ▁ 3 4 . 9 , ▁the ▁Center ▁Att ack ▁Force , ▁for ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁North ▁Africa . ▁Her ▁holds ▁and ▁de cks ▁were ▁combat - loaded ▁with ▁men ▁and ▁equipment ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 5 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁morning ▁of