She was later converted into a test range support ship and renamed USS Elk River (IX-501).

This vessel was designed to carry both shorter range guns and rocket launchers to deliver large volumes of fire in short periods.

Decommissioned on 1 August 1946 at Astoria, the vessel was laid up in the reserve fleet Columbia River Group.

[citation needed] In November 1967, she was underway off Long Beach, California in support of the SEALAB III Project.

A model of USS Elk River (LSM(R)-501, later IX-501) is on display in the Cold War Gallery, Building 70.