The 125 ft (38 m) wooden hulled ship was constructed at Glenorchy, Tasmania as one of 32 motor vessels originally intended for the Department of Commerce, but later allocated to the Australian Army.

[4] Launched on 4 October 1944 as Australian Army AV 1369 Lagunta, she was subsequently transferred to the RAN and commissioned on 23 May 1945, assigned to the Services Reconnaissance Department under the command of Lieutenant Charles Haultain.

[5] The ship briefly served a workshop and headquarters function in support of clandestine operations in waters around Borneo and the Moluccas during the last days of the conflict.

On 24 May 1945, the Premier of Tasmania Sir Robert Cosgrove inspected the ship, which remained alongside in Hobart until 29 May before proceeding to Williamstown, Victoria and then Garden Island in Sydney Harbour.

Anaconda spent much of June and July in Sydney due to reliability issues with her engines, compounded by a shortage of spare parts.