The USNS Perseus (T-AF-64) was a Denebola-class stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy, primarily tasked with transporting stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to fleet vessels, remote stations, and staging areas. Originally laid down as the SS Union Victory, a Victory ship designated MCV hull 683, she was constructed by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, Oregon. Laid down on March 30, 1945, she was launched on May 11, 1945, and delivered to the Maritime Commission on June 8, 1945, just in time to serve in World War II. During the war, she operated under contract from the Maritime Commission, carrying military cargoes across the Pacific and supporting the European occupation efforts. Throughout her service life, the vessel frequently transferred among various operators, including Alaska Transportation Company, Black Diamond Steamship Company, South Atlantic SS Company, and the American Mail Line. She was laid up multiple times in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Beaumont, Texas, and Olympia, Washington, reflecting her intermittent employment during peacetime. In 1961, the ship's role shifted from merchant service to naval support when her ownership was transferred to the U.S. Navy. She underwent conversion at the Willamette Iron and Steel Company in Portland, Oregon, to become a refrigerated supply ship. Renamed USNS Perseus (AF–64) on December 4, 1961, she was placed in service in September 1962, operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). As Perseus, she primarily carried fresh and frozen foods from the U.S. West Coast to Pacific and Far East ports, supporting U.S. naval operations during the Cold War. Perseus was taken out of service at an unspecified date and struck from the Naval Register on June 15, 1973. She was subsequently returned to the Maritime Administration's Reserve Fleet and sold for scrapping in Kaohsiung in 1974. Her service history highlights her role in logistical support during significant military operations, notably the Korean War, where her predecessor, the SS Union Victory, transported vital supplies and personnel, underscoring her maritime importance in U.S. naval logistics.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.