Originally laid down as USS "LST-1131" on 8 December 1944 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, she was launched on 2 March 1945 and sponsored by Mrs. Patricia Ann Jacobsen. "Askari" was then ferried down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, where the landing craft repair ship was commissioned on 15 March 1945, with Lieutenant Charles L. Haslup in command. On 28 March, she got underway for Jacksonville, Florida where she was decommissioned on 9 April 1945 for outfitting for her role by the Merrill-Stevens Drydock & Repair Company. The ship was recommissioned as USS "Askari" (ARL-30) on 23 July 1945.