The USS Venus (AK-135) was a Crater-class cargo ship that served the United States Navy during World War II. Originally launched as the liberty ship SS William Williams, she was built under a Maritime Commission contract by Permanente Metals Corporation in Richmond, California. Laid down on July 5, 1942, and launched on August 21, 1942, she was delivered to her owners, the Isthmian Steamship Company, in September 1942. William Williams initially operated in the Pacific theater, carrying lumber and other cargo. On May 2, 1943, near Suva, Fiji, she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-19. Despite heavy damage, the crew, under Captain Freeman, managed to abandon the ship temporarily and send a distress signal before returning to extinguish fires and regain steam power, allowing her to continue to port. The ship was towed to Auckland, New Zealand, where the Navy acquired her in November 1943, and she was renamed USS Venus. After repairs and conversion in Sydney, Venus was placed back in commission in September 1944. She was armed with a single 5-inch/38 dual-purpose gun and participated in various operations in the Southwest Pacific, including supporting the aftermath of the Mount Hood explosion at Manus and supplying Australian and Allied units in Hollandia, Aitape, and the Philippines. She also transported personnel and equipment, including construction battalion supplies, and responded to air raids during her service. Decommissioned in April 1946, Venus was subsequently towed to the West Coast and struck from the Navy list in 1948. She was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet and eventually sold for scrapping in 1961. Throughout her service, USS Venus earned one battle star and played a vital logistical role in the Pacific campaign, exemplifying the importance of cargo ships in wartime logistics.

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