These were pre-war merchant ship hull types which had been specifically designed with prospective Naval auxiliary service in mind.

The commissioning dates were not so far apart though, since Crescent City had to undergo several months converting to an attack transport before she was ready to serve in October '41.

The last three ships in the class saw service in both the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres, with one, Charles Carroll, also participating in the Normandy landings in France.

Crescent City, the lead ship and first to be commissioned, spent the entirety of the war in the Pacific Theatre, where she accumulated an impressive ten battle stars.

The Crescent City class as a whole earned an impressive 33 battle stars and two Navy Unit Commendations for their military service.