About: USS Wildcat (AW-2)

USS Wildcat (AW-2), was a Stag-class tanker, built for the United States Navy during World War II, the only U.S. Naval vessel to be named for Felis silvestris. Originally projected as the Liberty ship tanker SS Leon Godchaux; however, before her construction began, the ship was allocated to the Navy. She was classified as IX-130, an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, and renamed Wildcat on 27 October 1943 and acquired by the Navy under a bareboat charter from the War Shipping Administration. Her keel was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (Z-ET1-S-C3, MCE hull 1934) on 16 November 1943 at New Orleans, Louisiana, by the Delta Shipbuilding Company. She was launched on 7 January 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Leonie Godchaux Mayer, reclassified AW-2 on 4 February 1944, delivered to the Na