The USS Comet (AP-166) was a La Salle-class transport vessel constructed during World War II, serving from 1944 to 1946. Built under a Maritime Commission contract with the hull designation C2-S-B1, the ship was constructed by the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California. She was launched on December 21, 1942, and commissioned into the U.S. Navy on February 15, 1944. The Comet's service primarily unfolded in the Pacific Theater. After departing San Diego on April 26, 1944, she transported U.S. Marines to Pearl Harbor, where she conducted training until late May. Her combat debut occurred at Saipan in June 1944, where she participated in the initial assault, unloading troops and cargo under heavy enemy fire. Following Saipan, she supported the invasion of Guam in July, landing reinforcements during the Battle of Guam. Subsequently, she took part in the Leyte Gulf landings in October 1944, delivering troops amidst the initial assault and later bringing reinforcements from New Guinea. Her operations extended to the Lingayen Gulf landings in January 1945, where she reinforced Allied forces on Luzon. Throughout the campaign, Comet also transported hospital patients from Pearl Harbor to California, aiding in post-battle medical evacuations. After an overhaul, Comet returned to the Pacific in June 1945, carrying Seabees and equipment to Okinawa, arriving just before the end of the war in August 1945. During the postwar period, she was heavily involved in repatriating military personnel and veterans, making seven transpacific voyages to various Pacific and Alaskan ports until her decommissioning on August 14, 1946. Following her naval service, the vessel was transferred to the War Shipping Administration and eventually sold to American Pioneer Lines, where she was renamed SS Pioneer Reef, later becoming SS Australian Reef until her scrapping in Taiwan in 1970. Comet earned three battle stars for her World War II service, notably for operations at Saipan, Guam, Leyte, and Lingayen Gulf.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.