Her keel was laid down by California Shipbuilding Corporation, in Wilmington, Los Angeles, as William Winter for the Maritime Commission.

Elk sailed from San Pedro, Los Angeles, on 12 January 1944 for Kwajalein where she served from 19 February to 19 April as station tanker to fuel ships in the assault and occupation of the Marshall Islands.

From 26 June she was based again on Majuro, providing fuel for destroyers of the Security Patrol who guarded the waters around the bypassed, enemy-held islands of Wotje, Mili, and Jaluit.

Elk returned to the United States in early 1946, was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 May 1946, and reverted to the Maritime Commission 20 May 1946.

[1] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.