▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Mrs . ▁Charles ▁E . ▁Williams ; ▁acquired ▁by ▁the ▁Navy ; ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁for ▁passage ▁to ▁Mobile , ▁Alabama ; ▁de comm ission ed ▁there ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁for ▁conversion ▁by ▁the ▁Alabama ▁D ry d ock ▁and ▁Sh ip building ▁Company ; ▁and ▁recomm ission ed ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁Com dr . ▁Finn an ▁F . ▁Kn ach el ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Pacific ▁Theatre ▁operations ▁▁▁ ▁Ark ab ▁held ▁sh aked own ▁training ▁in ▁Ch es ape ake ▁Bay ▁through ▁mid - J une . ▁She ▁sa iled ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁June ▁for ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Ocean . ▁After ▁trans iting ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal , ▁Ark ab ▁mo ored ▁at ▁P ago ▁P ago , ▁Sam oa , ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁August . ▁C argo ▁dest ined ▁for ▁New ▁C aled onia ▁was ▁taken ▁on ▁board , ▁and ▁Ark ab ▁reached ▁N ou me a ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁September . ▁There , ▁she ▁emb ark ed ▁ 2 0 0 ▁military ▁passengers ▁for ▁transport ation ▁to ▁the ▁U . S . ▁west ▁coast . ▁ ▁Support ing ▁South ▁Pacific ▁Navy ▁bases ▁▁▁ ▁Upon ▁her ▁arrival ▁at ▁San ▁Francisco , ▁California , ▁Ark ab ▁under w ent ▁voyage ▁rep airs . ▁On ▁