Built as American steam passenger ship Santa Lucia for W.R. Grace & Co, New York. In March 1942 transferred to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) and used as transport. On 6 Aug, 1942, acquired by the US Navy and commissioned on 24 Sep, 1942 as troop transport USS Leedstown (AP 73). The vessel departed New York on 26 September, arriving in Belfast on 7 October.

The USS Leedstown (AP 73) earned one battle star for her World War 2 service.

On 6 Nov, 1942, USS Leedstown (AP 73) (LtCmdr Duncan Cook) entered the Mediterranean as part of a large convoy consisting of 37 transports for the Operation Torch, the landings in North Africa. At 17.00 hours on 8 November, the convoy was attacked by German aircraft (He111 and Ju88), hitting USS Leedstown (AP 73) with an aerial torpedo in the stern. The explosion destroyed her steering gear and flooded the after section. The ship fell out of the convoy and was escorted by HMS Samphire (K 128), when at 12.55 hours on 9 November, some German Ju88 aircraft attacked again. One attacker was shot down and the vessel could evade all bombs, but three near misses caused more damages. The ship then anchored near Cape Matifou, about 12 miles from Algiers.

At 14.04 hours on 9 November, U-331 fired a spread of four torpedoes at USS Leedstown (AP 73), heard three hits and sinking noises. In fact, the ship was hit by two torpedoes amidships and was abandoned after ten minutes. After an unsuccessful bombing attack, the vessel sank at 16.15 hours.