The USS Winged Arrow (AP-170) was a La Salle-class transport ship constructed during World War II, designed to ferry troops and supplies to combat zones. She was laid down on 26 January 1943 as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull at Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California, and launched on 3 April 1943. The vessel had a displacement of nearly 14,000 long tons, emphasizing her substantial size and capacity for wartime logistics. Initially delivered to the War Shipping Administration on 12 June 1943 as a freighter operated by the McCormick Steamship Company, she was later converted into a troop transport by Hurley Machine Works, with her conversion completed on 21 April 1944. On the same day, she was acquired by the U.S. Navy, commissioned as USS Winged Arrow (AP-170), and immediately entered troop transport service. Throughout her service, Winged Arrow participated in numerous critical operations in the Pacific Theater. She practiced amphibious operations at Pearl Harbor, transported troops to Kwajalein, and supported the Mariana Islands campaign, including the assault on Saipan and Tinian. Notably, she was part of the feint landing on Tinian and later supported the actual landings, including reinforcing Marine divisions. She also carried Japanese prisoners of war and returned troops and civilians from various Pacific locations, including Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Philippines. The vessel endured kamikaze attacks near Lingayen Gulf but was not damaged. Her service extended into the post-war period, transporting occupation troops and returning American personnel from Asia. She was decommissioned on 12 August 1946, earning four battle stars for her wartime service. After her naval career, she served under various commercial names until 1965, likely ending her service as a broken-up vessel. The USS Winged Arrow remains a significant example of wartime troop transport capability and logistical support during World War II.

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