USS Lynx (AK-100)

The USS "Lynx" (AK-100) was a US "Crater"-class cargo ship which served in the Pacific in World War II. The "Lynx" is the third US vessel to bear the name, but unlike previous ships this one was named after the constellation Lynx.

The "Lynx" was laid down as SS "Juan Bautista de Anza" under a Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, California, 26 April 1943; launched 18 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. E. E. McCarty; renamed "Lynx" 27 May 1943; and commissioned 26 July 1943, Comdr. Leander Jeffrey in command. Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service, "Lynx" loaded cargo at San Francisco and departed for the western Pacific 28 August. During the next 15 months she carried cargo out of San Francisco to American bases in the Pacific. Over this period she completed five round trip cargo runs which sent her to New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, the New Hebrides, the Admiralties, and the Hawaiian Islands. Departing San Francisco 3 December 1944, "Lynx" sailed to Pearl Harbor where she arrived 12 December to load four PT boats. On 11 January 1945 she sailed for the Philippines; and, steaming via the Admiralties and New Guinea, she reached Leyte Gulf 5 February. During the next 2 months she operated between Guiuan, Samar, and Tacloban, Leyte; then she sailed for Okinawa 8 April. As American forces fought for control of that strategic island, which lay at the doorstep of Japan, "Lynx" steamed in convoy via Ulithi and arrived off Okinawa 26 April. Despite intermittent air attacks by the Japanese, she completed unloading cargo 4 May and sailed for Ulithi. Arriving there 9 May, she refueled, then sailed for the west coast 12 May. She reached San Francisco 4 June. After overhaul, "Lynx" loaded cargo and sailed for the Marshall Islands 2 July. She arrived Eniwetok 2 August, operated among the atolls during the next 3 weeks, then departed Kwajalein for San Francisco the 24th. She arrived 11 September; and, following overhaul, she decommissioned at Suisun Bay, California, 1 November 1945. Transferred to the War Shipping Administration the same day, she was struck from the Naval Register 16 November 1945. "Lynx" received one battle star for World War II service.

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