The USS Bellatrix (AF-62) was an Alstede-class stores ship that served with the United States Navy from 1961 to 1968, following a period of commercial service from 1945 to 1961. She was originally laid down as the Fleetwood on October 16, 1944, at the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California, under a Maritime Commission contract. Launched on December 4, 1944, and delivered on June 21, 1945, the vessel initially operated under commercial contracts, first with the United Fruit Company, conducting cargo runs across the North Atlantic until October 1946. Subsequently, she was transferred to the Pacific Far-East Line, where she made numerous cargo runs throughout the Pacific, including to Alaskan waters. In April 1958, while still operated by the Pacific Far-East Line, she began serving the Military Sea Transportation Service. On August 22, 1961, the vessel was transferred back to the U.S. Navy, where she underwent conversion into a stores ship at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, a process completed on October 13, 1961. Renamed Bellatrix AF-62, she was recommissioned on November 18, 1961, under the command of Nathan E. Dozier. Following her outfitting and shakedown training based in San Diego, the Bellatrix departed San Francisco on March 3, 1962, for her first Western Pacific deployment. She supported Joint Task Force 8 during nuclear testing at Christmas Island and provided logistical support to U.S. Navy vessels through underway and in-port replenishments at various locations, including Yokosuka, Sasebo, Subic Bay, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong. In June 1962, she returned for an overhaul. Throughout her service, Bellatrix supported U.S. 7th Fleet operations during the Vietnam War, especially after August 1964, focusing on supporting fleet activities off Vietnam’s coast. During this period, she visited Nagasaki, Midway Island, and Pearl Harbor. The vessel was decommissioned on September 30, 1968, at Hunters Point, California, and her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. She was sold for scrap in March 1969. During her service in Vietnam, Bellatrix earned five battle stars, marking her significant role in logistical support during the conflict.

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