USS Cape Johnson (AP-172), was a United States Navy troop transport ship that was used in the South Pacific during World War II.

She was launched on 20 February 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Wilmington, Los Angeles, under a Maritime Commission contract and sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Steward.

Sailing on to San Francisco, where she arrived on 22 April 1945, Cape Johnson transported troops from the west coast to Manila, and on 16 August cleared the Philippines for Pearl Harbor.

With occupation troops loaded there, the transport arrived at Wakayama, Honshū, Japan on 27 September, and then began transpacific crossings returning servicemen to the States.

In addition to his Naval duties, Hess carefully tracked his travel routes to Pacific Ocean landings on the Marianas, Philippines, and Iwo Jima, continuously using his ship's echo sounder.