USS Indus ( AKN - 1 ) USS " Indus " ( AKN - 1 ) was the lead ship of the " Indus " - class of converted liberty ship net cargo ship s in the service of the United States Navy in World War II . Named after the constellation Indus , it was the only ship of the Navy to bear this name . " Indus " was laid down 4 October 1943 as liberty ship SS " Theodore Roosevelt " ( MCE hull 1814 ) by Bethlehem - Fairfield Shipyard , Baltimore , Maryland , under a Maritime Commission contract ; launched 29 October 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . William MacMillan , granddaughter of President Theodore Roosevelt ; acquired by the Navy 5 November 1943 ; converted at the Maryland Dry Dock Company ; and renamed " Indus " . She commissioned 15 February 1944 , Commander . A . S . Einmo in command . After the installation of additional equipment at Norfolk , the net cargo ship conducted shakedown in Chesapeake Bay until 14 March 1944 . She sailed from Norfolk 1 April for the Pacific theater , via the Canal Zone , and arrived Espiritu Santo 12 May 1944 . Her first assignment was the installation of nets in Seeadler Harbor , and she arrived there 1 June 1944 to direct and support the work of net - laying ships . With these important anti - torpedo nets completed , the ship departed 29 July to load gear at Milne Bay , New Guinea , arriving Mios Woendi to install nets 30 August . " Indus " then returned to Milne Bay 27 September , and soon afterward became flagship for Commander 7th Fleet Service Forces during the Leyte operation . She sailed 12 October for Hollandia and arrived Leyte Gulf 24 October to support that vital operation . The versatile ship issued stores and did repair work during this period , and during the numerous air raids shot down at least two Japan ese aircraft . She departed 6 December for Hollandia where she loaded additional gear and provisions . As the next major assault in the Philippines , the Lingayen Gulf operation , began to take shape at staging bases , " Indus " joined the service group and departed 28 December for the landing . Although the Japanese made desperate air attacks on the convoy , sinking some ships but suffering heavy losses themselves , the fleet resolutely drove through to its objective . " Indus " arrived safely at the assault area 9 January 1945 and performed service duties during the initial landing stages . Departing 23 February , the ship sailed to the recaptured base at Subic Bay and on 28 February began to establish net defenses . She continued this vital work until departing 11 May for Hollandia , where she arrived two days later . " Indus " returned to the Manila Bay area 24 May to unload supplies , then sailed 1 June for Pearl Harbor . She remained there until 30 June , when she sailed with net gear for Eniwetok Atoll , for work on the net defenses there . The veteran ship returned to Pearl Harbor in August , and was in port when the surrender of Japan was announced . She subsequently carried cargo and did net work at Eniwetok , Saipan , and Kwajalein until the end of 1945 . She returned to Norfolk 14 March 1946 , via the Panama Canal , decommissioned at Norfolk 20 May 1946 , and was returned to the Maritime Commission 3 days later . Placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet under her old name , she was berthed at Wilmington , North Carolina until she was scrapped in 1967 . " Indus " received one battle star for World War II service .