High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Athene (AKA-22) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship named after the minor planet 881 Athene, which in turn was named after the Greek goddess Athena. She served as a commissioned ship for 20 months. Athene (AKA-22) was laid down on 20 January 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1883) at Providence, R.I., by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched on 18 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Emily Thornton; and acquired by the Navy and commissioned on 29 September 1944, Comdr. Edward R. Nelson, Jr., in command.