Increase A. Lapham was a Liberty ship laid down under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 1584, on 10 June 1943, at Richmond, California, by the Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No.

[3] After shakedown training, the new cargo ship got underway for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, her base of operations while she carried supplies to the forward areas in the Pacific Ocean.

The ship moved to Baker Island on 31 December, to take on cargo prior to returning to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on 13 January 1944.

Upon reaching Majuro Atoll, on 3 February, the ship began unloading her cargo to support ongoing landing operations.

The vessel arrived at Guam on 8 August, where she remained for one month discharging cargo and delivering fresh water to various ships of the fleet.

She moved to San Francisco, California, on 27 October, to take on cargo and, on 6 November, sailed for Pearl Harbor.

Alkes arrived at San Pedro on 4 March and underwent repairs while taking on supplies and equipment.

The ship was subsequently laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, Virginia,[4] as SS Increase A. Lapham.