The USS Mintaka (AK-94) was a Crater-class cargo ship constructed during World War II, originally laid down as the Liberty ship SS Ansel Briggs. Built by the California Shipbuilding Corporation in Terminal Island, Los Angeles, she was launched on 10 March 1943 and sponsored by Mrs. A. V. Bechtel. The vessel was renamed Mintaka on 17 March 1943 and was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 26 March 1943, commissioning at San Diego, California, on 10 May 1943. She measured approximately 441 feet in length, with a beam of around 56 feet, and was crewed by United States Coast Guard personnel. Her primary mission was to deliver troops, supplies, and equipment across the vast Pacific Theatre. After initial operations in the South Pacific and Alaskan waters, Mintaka was converted in December 1943 into a troop-carrying cargo ship, increasing her versatility for the ongoing Pacific campaign. Throughout 1944 and 1945, USS Mintaka played a vital role in logistical support, conducting shuttle runs among key locations such as New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, and Guadalcanal. She transported thousands of troops, including reinforcements and Seabees, and supported critical campaigns at Palaus and Okinawa. Notably, she participated in the assault at Okinawa, arriving on 21 May 1945, where she unloaded troops and cargo amidst Japanese air attacks, during which her gunners successfully shot down an enemy aircraft. Following the war, Mintaka continued troop and cargo runs to locations like Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Ulithi before returning to San Francisco in July 1945. She was decommissioned on 12 February 1946 and placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay. The vessel was sold for scrapping in 1968, marking the end of her service. USS Mintaka earned one battle star for her wartime service, reflecting her significant contribution to Allied logistics and operations in the Pacific Theater.

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