USS Alpine was laid down as Sea Arrow under a Maritime Commission contract on 12 April 1943 at Los Angeles, California, by the Western Pipe and Steel Company; launched on 10 July 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Helen Marsh, acquired by the Navy on 30 September 1943, renamed Alpine on 30 August 1943 and simultaneously designated APA-92; and commissioned on 30 September at San Francisco, California.
On 27 August, with 1,416 soldiers on board, the transport left Pearl Harbor for one week of amphibious training exercises off the island of Maui.
Alpine made a three-day stop at Eniwetok for supplies and then continued on to Manus in company with Task Group (TG) 33.1.
There, the transport loaded the headquarters squadron of the 5th Army Air Force and, on 14 November began the return voyage to Leyte Gulf.
She soon spotted an enemy aircraft, and the transport's gunners opened fire from a range of 3,000 yards.
The transport anchored in Seeadler Harbor on 24 November and underwent hull repairs necessitated by her battle damage.
She returned to Manus to replenish her supplies, then sailed on 31 December for the island of Luzon in company with TG 79.3.
Following two days of amphibious training exercises, the transport anchored off Luzon on 29 January and began lowering her boats at 0615.
Alpine spent the next month providing logistical support to smaller craft present in San Pedro Bay.
She loaded Army troops and got underway on 12 March to conduct a week of landing exercises off the southern coast of Samar.
On 2 April, USS Gear came alongside to assist the ship's force in making repairs.
She reached the naval station at Seattle, Washington, on 30 April and entered drydock on 1 May for overhaul and repairs.
Her patching was completed by 29 June, and Alpine got underway on 5 July for three weeks of refresher training off the west coast.
The transport got underway from San Pedro Bav on 10 October with units of the 6th Infantry Division embarked.
Alpine again got underway on 24 October and headed for various ports in China to load American forces for passage home.
After brief stops at Taku, Weihaiwei, and Qingdao, China, Alpine set out for the long journey back to the West Coast.
She arrived at Tacoma, Washington, on 14 January 1946 and, 12 days later, began a voyage, via the Panama Canal, to Norfolk, Virginia.
She continued in service with American Mail until 1965, when she was sold to Hudson Waterways Corporation, who re-registered her in New York and renamed her Transwestern.