The second ship to be so named by the Navy, Fairfield (AK-178) was launched on 6 February 1945 by Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. Henry W. Creeger; acquired by the Navy on a loan-charter basis from the U.S. Maritime Commission; and commissioned on 28 March 1945, Lieutenant C. R. Snyder, USNR, in command.