The USS Mink (IX-123) was an Armadillo-class tanker constructed during World War II, serving as an unclassified miscellaneous vessel in the United States Navy. She was laid down as Judah Touro on October 20, 1943, by the Delta S. B. Shipbuilding Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, under a Maritime Commission contract. Launched on December 4, 1943, she was sponsored by Mrs. E. S. Lazarus and renamed Mink on October 27, 1943, prior to her acquisition by the Navy on January 8, 1944. The ship was officially commissioned on January 9, 1944. Mink's dimensions and design specifics are not detailed on the Wikipedia page, but as an Armadillo-class tanker, she was primarily tasked with the transportation and delivery of vital fuel supplies. After her shakedown off Texas, she proceeded to the Panama Canal Zone, arriving at Balboa on February 2, 1944. Her primary operational area was the Southwest Pacific, where she arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea, on March 12, 1944, carrying diesel oil and motor gasoline to bolster the Seventh Fleet’s service force. Throughout her service, Mink played a crucial logistical role, discharging aviation gasoline, diesel, and lubricating oil to various ships and craft during the Pacific island campaigns. She participated in the buildup for the invasion of the Philippines, anchoring in Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Islands, by late May 1944. Notably, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Mink's gunners shot down two Japanese planes, showcasing her defensive capabilities. In January 1945, Mink arrived at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, supporting the amphibious landings that contributed significantly to the Luzon campaign. She continued fueling operations off Morotai and between Luzon and Mindanao, until the conclusion of hostilities. After Japan's surrender, Mink returned to the United States, arriving at Newport News on May 16, 1946. She was decommissioned on June 26, 1946, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration. Following her naval service, she was renamed Judah Touro and sold into merchant service, later bearing the names Seavalor, Apukia, and Eleni V. Mink earned three battle stars for her World War II service, marking her as a significant logistical vessel in the Pacific theater. A photograph of her during launching remains on display at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans.

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