The USS Fuller (AP-14/APA-7) was a Heywood-class attack transport constructed during World War I, originally laid down in 1918 as the War Wave at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Alameda Works Shipyard. Intended for the British Shipping Controller, she was requisitioned during construction and completed in 1919 by the United States Shipping Board as Archer, with the official number 217596. Later, she was renamed City of Newport News after acquisition by the Baltimore Mail S.S. Co. in 1930. Requisitioned by the U.S. Navy on 12 November 1940, she was commissioned in ordinary on the same day and fully commissioned by 9 April 1941. The ship underwent a significant conversion that added 100 feet to her length, enabling her to carry more cargo and marines, and was reclassified from AP-14 to APA-7 on 1 February 1943. As an attack transport, Fuller was primarily engaged in amphibious assaults across the Pacific Theater during World War II. She trained her crew in landing craft operations before deploying to the Atlantic Fleet in June 1941, participating in the occupation of Iceland and later transporting troops and cargo to Cuba, the Canal Zone, Puerto Rico, and Northern Ireland. In May 1942, she set sail for New Zealand, arriving in Wellington. Fuller's combat record includes landing Marines at Guadalcanal in August 1942, often under Japanese air attack, and supporting subsequent operations in the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, and other South Pacific bases. Notably, during the Bougainville operation in November 1943, she was hit by enemy aircraft, which caused a fire and resulted in casualties among her crew and embarked soldiers. She was repaired and continued her role in transporting reinforcements and casualties. She participated in key campaigns such as the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Peleliu, Leyte, and Luzon, often staging diversionary feints and landing troops during amphibious assaults. Fuller also took part in the Okinawa campaign, arriving during the initial landings in April 1945. After hostilities ceased, she carried out occupation duties until returning to Seattle in December 1945. Decommissioned in March 1946, she was transferred to the Maritime Commission and eventually scrapped in 1957. Fuller earned nine battle stars for her distinguished service in World War II, marking her as a notable vessel in the Pacific amphibious campaign.

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