Hydra was in naval service from 1 January through 19 November 1943 before she was transferred to the U.S. Army[1] for conversion to the Engineer Port Repair ship Madison Jordan Manchester.
[1] The ship was converted for naval service at Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, with completion on 27 May 1943.
[4] Hydra commissioned 25 September 1943, and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, 1 October to prepare for her shakedown.
For the next month she engaged in various operations, including speed trials and target runs in the Chesapeake Bay.
[5] The ship was returned to the Maritime Commission and arrived in the James River National Defense Reserve Fleet on 20 August 1947.