The USS Jaguar (IX-120) was an Armadillo-class tanker serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Originally laid down as the vessel Charles T. Yerkes under a Maritime Commission contract (Z-ET1-S-C3) by the California Shipbuilding Corporation in San Pedro, California, the ship was launched on November 20, 1943. She was subsequently renamed Jaguar on October 27, 1943, acquired by the Navy on December 15, 1943, and commissioned on the same day. Designed as an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, USS Jaguar was primarily used as a floating storage ship in the Pacific theater. After her shakedown cruise out of San Pedro, she departed on January 19, 1944, for her operational duties. She arrived in New Caledonia on February 21, 1944, after passing through Wellington, New Zealand. Her mission involved transporting vital supplies such as diesel oil, aviation gasoline, and minesweeping gear to strategic locations including the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands, supporting the Allied efforts in the Pacific. Following her service in these critical logistics roles, USS Jaguar returned to the U.S. West Coast in early 1946, arriving in Norfolk, Virginia, via the Panama Canal on April 20, 1946. She was decommissioned shortly thereafter on June 10, 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission. Post-military service, the vessel was repurposed as a commercial tanker under various names, including Harry Peer in 1948 and Tini in 1949. Eventually, in February 1951, she was transferred to Panamanian registry. In summary, USS Jaguar (IX-120) played an important logistical role during World War II, supporting Allied operations across the Pacific with her cargo capabilities. Her construction, service record, and subsequent commercial use exemplify the versatile life of wartime auxiliary vessels.

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