USS Lancaster (AK-193) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship

Cargo ship

A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...

 that was constructed by the U.S. Navy during the closing period of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. She was declared excess-to-needs and returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission shortly after commissioning.

Service career

The fourth ship to be so named by the Navy, Lancaster (AK-193), ex-MC Hull 2124, was laid down 1 July 1944 by Walter Butler Shipbuilding Inc., Superior, Wisconsin

Superior, Wisconsin

Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...

; launched the same year; acquired by the Navy 21 September 1945; and commissioned the same day.

The end of World War II reduced the need for cargo ships, and Lancaster decommissioned 23 November 1945. She was struck at an unknown date. Lancaster was returned to the War Shipping Administration

War Shipping Administration

The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....

. There is no record of her subsequent career.