The USS Giraffe (IX-118) was an Armadillo-class tanker designated an unclassified miscellaneous vessel. The Armadillo-class of tankers was a class of type Z-ET1-S-C3 Liberty ship tankers that served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. The USS Giraffe (IX-118) keel was laid down as SS Sanford B. Dole, on 14 October 1943, under a Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA., and launched on 11 November 1943. Many Navy service members and veterans developed severe conditions after being exposed to asbestos on Navy ships. For many, that exposure occurred when using equipment that contained asbestos, including pumps, blowers, valves, turbines, and boilers. During World War II, the USS Giraffe (IX-118) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the capture and occupation of Saipan, between 7 to 10 August 1944, and Okinawa Gunto operation. She was awarded two battle stars for World War II service.
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