USS Kanawha (AOG-31) was a T1-M-A2 Mettawee-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations. The fourth ship to be named Kanawha by the Navy, AOG-31 was laid down 30 August 1944 by the , Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 18 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. May T. Norton; transferred to the Navy 13 November; and commissioned 23 November 1944.