▁II . ▁She ▁was ▁responsible ▁for ▁deliver ing ▁troops , ▁goods ▁and ▁equipment ▁to ▁locations ▁in ▁the ▁war ▁zone . ▁ ▁Ph ob os ▁( AK – 1 2 9 ) ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁as ▁SS ▁Joseph ▁H . ▁K ib bey ▁under ▁Mar itime ▁Commission ▁contract ▁by ▁Tod d ▁Houston ▁Sh ip building ▁Co ., ▁Houston , ▁Texas , ▁ 2 5 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁launched ▁ 6 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Mrs . ▁J . ▁S . ▁Bur rows ; ▁and ▁delivered ▁to ▁the ▁Mar itime ▁Commission ▁ 1 7 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁for ▁operation ▁by ▁the ▁American ▁Ex port ▁L ines . ▁Following ▁one ▁cru ise ▁as ▁a ▁merchant ▁vessel , ▁SS ▁Joseph ▁H . ▁K ib bey ▁was ▁acquired ▁by ▁the ▁Army ▁Transport ation ▁Service ▁for ▁use ▁as ▁a ▁tro op ▁transport . ▁While ▁under ▁conversion ▁at ▁Tod d - John son ▁D ry ▁D ock s , ▁Inc ., ▁New ▁Orleans , ▁Louisiana , ▁she ▁was ▁re ass igned ▁to ▁the ▁Navy ▁and ▁named ▁Ph ob os ▁ 1 5 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁She ▁was ▁accepted ▁by ▁the ▁Navy ▁ 1 2 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁commission ed ▁the ▁same ▁day ▁at ▁Al gi ers , ▁Louisiana , ▁L t . ▁Com dr . ▁Ed gar ▁R . ▁Win ck ler ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁Pacific ▁Theatre ▁operations ▁▁▁ ▁Ph ob os ▁ste amed ▁to