USNS Kingsport (T-AG-164) began its career as Kingsport Victory (T-AK-239), which served as a cargo vessel during World War II. The ship was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet after transfer to the Maritime Commission on 29 September 1947. On 8 August 1948 the ship was withdrawn from reserve to become USAT Kingsport Victory under charter to the Army until transfer to the Navy. The ship was involved in a legal case, JOHANSEN, v. UNITED STATES, involving rights of Army civilian crew in personal injury cases. Kingsport Victory was acquired by the United States Navy from the Maritime Commission on 1 March 1950, and carried military cargo for the next eleven years as USNS Kingsport Victory (T-AK-239). On 24 September 1961, she was delivered to the Portland, Oregon facilities of Willamette