Ajax was laid down on 7 May 1941 at San Pedro, California, by the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp., launched on 22 August 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Isaac C. Johnson commissioned on 30 October 1943, Comdr. John L. Brown in command. On 25 May 1945, Ajax headed for San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, to help prepare for the final assault on Japan, spending July repairing typhoon-battered Bennington (CV-20). The job consisted of rebuilding the forward section of her flight deck and required assistance from Basilan (AG-68), Baham (AK-122), and Jason (ARH-1).