Built as steam tanker Hudsonian for US Shipping Board. In October 1921 transferred to the US Navy and on 16 Dec, 1921 commissioned as fleet oiler USS Salinas (AO 19). She was placed in reserve from June 1922 to June 1926 and then transported fuel between the Caribbean and the USA until 1941. After the tanker was armed, she was based in August 1941 in Argentia, Newfoundland for convoy support operations.

The USS Salinas (AO 19) continued in the Atlantic convoy support and fuel transport operations until March 1944 and was then based in Dutch Harbor, Alaska and operated between Seattle and Alaska until war´s end. The ship was decommissioned and stricken in January/February 1946. 

At 09.00 hours on 30 Oct, 1941, the USS Salinas (AO 19) in convoy ON-28 was hit by two torpedoes from U-106 about 700 miles east of Newfoundland. The damaged tanker reached Argentia under own power and was repaired.