USS Fortune (IX-146)
USS Fortune was a US Navy aviation stores issue ship of World War II. Originally built as City of Elwood, a United States Shipping Board, Design 1037 freighter, she acquired by the Navy 16 February 1944, and commissioned 19 February 1944. She was reclassified AVS-2, on 25 May 1945.
Construction
City of Elwood was laid down in 1921, by Doullet & Williams, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Shipping Board hull #1910. She was launched on 18 March 1921, and delivered in April, to the USSB.
Civilian history
City of Elwood was owned by the USSB between the wars and allocated to the American Pioneer Line for service between New York and Baltimore and Oriental ports. In 1929, her boilers were replace with diesel engines. On 5 December 1941, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission and operated by the United States Lines.
Service history
Commissioned at Pearl Harbor, Fortune sailed 16 May 1944, for Kwajalein, her base for cargo operations to Eniwetok, Manus, and Ulithi, until 10 January 1945, when she became "aviation supply issue ship" "AVS-2", at Ulithi. She sailed from Ulithi 24 April, with passengers for Alameda, California, arriving 20 May, and lay in various California shipyards until decommissioned 18 October 1945, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration the same day.
Fate
Fortune was laid up in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, in Suisun Bay, on 18 October 1945. She was sold for $5,954, to the American Iron and Steel Company, for scrapping on 30 August 1946.