"Soubarissen", was laid down as SS "Mission Santa Ana" on 19 June 1944 by Marinship Corporation of Sausalito, California as a Maritime Commission type T2-SE-A2 tanker hull with a cargo capacity of , under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1828); launched on 12 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Andrew F. Carter; acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 5 January 1945 with Commander William H. Fogarty, USNR, in command.