Laid down as Mormacdove under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 21) on 15 August 1938 at Chester, Pennsylvania, by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Hull 178; launched on 6 July 1939; sponsored by Miss Alice W. Clement; delivered 21 September 1939 to owner/operator Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc.; acquired by the Navy on 2 June 1941; renamed Alchiba the next day and simultaneously designated AK-23; converted by the Boston Navy Yard for naval service as a cargo ship; and placed in commission at Boston on 15 June 1941.

She then carried out training exercises along the East Coast through early October and sailed – via Quonset Point, Rhode Island – for Halifax, Nova Scotia, to take on cargo and personnel for transportation to Iceland.

She resumed duty late in May and sailed for Hampton Roads to take on cargo and personnel destined for service in the South Pacific.

Upon completing this training, she embarked marines and filled her holds with ammunition, amphibious tractors, gasoline, and general supplies and got underway for operations in the Solomon Islands.

The vessel arrived off Guadalcanal on 7 August, where she disembarked her troops, unloaded her cargo, and helped rescue survivors from the USS Astoria, sunk after the Battle of Savo Island.

After unloading cargo to support Marines struggling for that island, she sailed back to New Caledonia (7–10 October)[1] for more supplies and returned to Guadalcanal on 1 November.

Hungry flames raged in the ship for over five days before weary fire fighting parties finally brought them under control.

Captain Freeman was awarded the Navy Cross and executive officer Commander Howard R. Shaw the Silver Star for their leadership in saving this vessel.

Most of her cargo was saved, and temporary repairs were in progress when Alchiba was torpedoed again on 7 December, this time by midget submarine Ha-38 (launched from I-24).

Although the hold cargo (500-pound bombs) had been unloaded earlier, the blast killed three men, including Everett M. Stuermer, MM2[5] wounded six others, and caused considerable structural damage.

She left Espiritu Santo on 6 May, bound for the West Coast of the United States, and entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, on 2 June.

[6] She made runs to New Caledonia and Guadalcanal and in mid-November, participated in the landings on Bougainville, as part of Transport Division C, III Amphibious Force.

In April, Alchiba was assigned to carry elements of the 25th RCT (Regimental Combat Team), 4th Marines, for the invasion of Saipan as part of Transport Division 20.

On 30 May, Alchiba entered the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California, to undergo extensive alterations and repairs.

The work was completed late in August, and the cargo ship got underway for sea trials in San Francisco Bay.

While en route, the ship experienced more engine problems, but she reached her destination on 9 October and commenced repair work.