USS Taurus ( AF - 25 ) USS " Taurus " ( AF - 25 ) , formerly SS " San Benito " , was a refrigerated banana boat of the United Fruit Company that may have been the first merchant ship to be built with turbo - electric transmission . From October 1942 to December 1945 she was a United States Navy stores ship in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II . She was scrapped in 1953 . United Fruit Company . Building . Workman , Clark and Company of Belfast , Northern Ireland built " San Benito " in 1921 , launching her on 12 August . British Thomson - Houston built her turbo generator and electric propulsion motor . The turbo generator also powered her electric refrigeration equipment . Owners and managers . Until 1930 " San Benito " was owned by the United Fruit Company , which registered her in Glasgow , Scotland and contracted the British company of Clark and Service to manage her . In 1930 or 1931 United Fruit transferred " San Benito " to its subsidiary Balboa Shipping Company , Inc , which registered her under the Panamanian flag of convenience . Subsequent turbo - electric ships . After " San Benito " , Balboa Shipping ordered further turbo - electric refrigerated ships . In 1930 Workman , Clark built for Balboa and Camell Laird of Birkenhead , England built " Musa " s sister ship . After 1930 Balboa ' s diesel electric motor vessel was re - engined as a turbo - electric . In 1931 – 33 Newport News Shipbuilding and Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation supplied six passenger and refrigerated cargo liners that in the Second World War were requisitioned as the s . US Navy service . On 20 August 1942 " San Benito " was renamed " Taurus " and designated AF - 25 , and on 2 October 1942 the War Shipping Administration acquired her for the US Navy . The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Alameda , California converted her into a provisions store ship , and on 28 October 1942 she was commissioned into the Navy , commanded by Lt . Cmdr . Edward T . Collins . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After over a month of false starts and technical problems , " Taurus " finally loaded cargo and left San Francisco , California , on 1 December . Her voyage to the South Pacific Ocean took her " via " Pago Pago , Samoa , to Auckland , New Zealand . On the voyages the ship suffered at least 32 more technical failures and lost a third of her cargo through the failure of her refrigeration plant . On arrival at Auckland , " Taurus " went into a five - week availability to correct as many of the deficiencies as possible before beginning her tour of duty with the Service Squadron , South Pacific Force . Repairs were completed in the first week in February 1943 and " Taurus " loaded cargo bound for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides . On 9 February she began the first of four round - trip voyages carrying cargo between Auckland and Espiritu Santo to be staged on to the forward areas . By August her sphere of operations was widened to include the Solomon Islands . On each of her next six voyages " Taurus " took cargo from Auckland " via " Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal . Through 1944 and much of 1945 " Taurus " continued to operate in the South Pacific on relatively uneventful supply missions . Early in 1944 she added Napier , New Zealand , and Noumea , New Caledonia , to her ports of call . By late April she was operating as far north in the Solomons as New Georgia and Bougainville . In May and June she visited Efate , Napier , Noumea , and Espiritu Santo . In July and September she made resupply runs to the Russell Islands in the Solomons . Through the end of 1944 and in the first three months of 1945 , " Taurus " continued supplying the Solomons ; primarily to Guadalcanal , Bougainville , and the Russells . After overhaul at Auckland from 6 March to 16 April 1945 , " Taurus " left for Hollandia , New Guinea . Through the end of August , all her voyages — save one to Manus in the Admiralty Islands — were between Auckland and Hollandia . She returned to Auckland on 30 August and departed again nine days later for New Caledonia and thence to the Philippines . After a stop at Noumea between 12 and 14 September , " Taurus " arrived at Samar on the 25th . End - of - war duties . From Samar , " Taurus " began her voyage back to the United States . By 23 November she had transited the Panama Canal and had reported for duty with the US Atlantic Fleet . Though originally ordered to Norfolk , Virginia , she was rerouted to New Orleans , Louisiana . She reported to the Commandant , 8th Naval District , on 29 November 1945 . On 11 December 1945 " Taurus " was decommissioned and returned , " via " the War Shipping Administration , to her owner . Her name was struck from the Navy list on 3 January 1946 . Military awards and honors . " Taurus " crew members were awarded the following medals :