The USS Zebra (AKN-5) was an Indus-class net cargo ship that served the United States Navy during World War II. Originally built as the Liberty ship Matthew Lyon (EC2-S-C1 type), she was laid down on March 18, 1943, by Permanente Metals Corporation in Richmond, California, and launched on April 11, 1943. Delivered to the War Shipping Administration on April 26, 1943, she initially operated in the Pacific theater under civilian management. While en route to Espiritu Santo in August 1943, Matthew Lyon was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-11, suffering severe damage but managing to reach port under her own power. Following her damage, she remained at Espiritu Santo for weeks, initially slated for scrapping. However, a naval officer recognized her potential as a net cargo ship, and she was acquired by the Navy under a bareboat charter on October 1, 1943. Renamed USS Zebra (IX-107), she was successfully rehabilitated and underwent conversion to serve as a net cargo vessel, designated AKN-5, and commissioned on February 27, 1944. Throughout her service, Zebra played a critical role in laying and salvaging anti-submarine nets across the Pacific. Her first mission involved transporting reclaimed netting from New Caledonia to various islands, including Fiji, Samoa, and Funafuti, where she collected and delivered net gear. In late 1944, she participated in installing defensive nets around strategic locations such as Ulithi Atoll, Peleliu, and Kossol Roads, contributing to the protection of key Pacific anchorage points. Zebra also supported combat operations at Iwo Jima, where she laid nets and supervised mooring operations under enemy fire during a 42-day deployment. Afterward, she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs and further modifications. She continued operations across the Pacific, including collecting salvaged net equipment from the Marshall Islands, Saipan, and Guam, before returning to the U.S. in December 1945. Decommissioned in January 1946 at Norfolk, Virginia, she was struck from the Navy List and returned to the War Shipping Administration. She received one battle star for her World War II service. Ultimately, she was laid up in the James River reserve fleet and scrapped in 1972. The USS Zebra’s service exemplifies the vital logistical and defensive roles played by net cargo ships in securing Pacific naval operations during the war.

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