The fifth Navy vessel to be named Arcturus, AF-52 was laid down on 8 December 1941 at Oakland, California, by the Moore Dry Dock Co. under a United States Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 184) as Golden Eagle; launched on 15 March 1942; sponsored by Mrs. John B. McKee; and delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 23 April 1943.

LTJG Sam Bell Damage Control Officer, OOD in formation cruising, 1964–1967 Between October 1948 and early 1950, she served the Army Transportation Corps as USAT Golden Eagle.

Designated AF-52 and run by a Navy crew, Golden Eagle operated out of New York carrying supplies to American bases in the North Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Over the next decade, the ship provided logistics support for Navy forces operating in the Mediterranean Sea and in the West Indies.

In between those assignments, Arcturus made logistics support voyages to the West Indies, conducted type training, and participated in multiship exercises.

On 18 October 1973, Arcturus was transferred to the Maritime Administration and berthed with the National Defense Reserve Fleet's contingent in Virginia's James River.