Long Splice was laid down under MARCOM contract, MC hull 2329, by the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Long Beach, California, 18 April 1945; launched 8 July 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Eloi J. Amar; and delivered to the MARCOM, thence to Lykes Brothers, 20 September 1945.

[3][4][5] Placed in service, with the designation T–AK–250 on 6 July 1950, Private Frank J. Petrarca was assigned to MSTS and served the Mid-Pacific Ocean area until 1959.

[3] Between 9 April 1959 and 4 July 1960, the AK was laid up at Suisun Bay, California, as a unit of the Maritime Administration's National Defense Reserve Fleet.

[6] In 1962, she participated in a cost and feasibility study of year round ocean service in Alaskan waters.

Since that time, into 1970, Private Frank J. Petrarca continued to carry vital supplies and equipment, particularly to southeast Asia, for MSTS, Pacific.