The ship was laid down as LST–328 on 12 November 1942, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; redesignated ARB-2 on 25 January 1943, she was then launched on 11 February 1943, and commissioned on 22 May 1943.

[2] Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Oceanus departed Norfolk, Virginia on 23 July 1943 for the Pacific, arriving at Nouméa, New Caledonia 18 September.

[2] The Okinawa campaign next took Oceanus to Kerama Retto, where work on ships damaged by kamikazes and bombs kept her on a round-the-clock schedule into mid-May.

Completing the work and returning to Kerama Retto's "Scrap Iron Row" on 21 May, she remained until early June when she steamed to the Philippines.

Decommissioned 15 January 1947, she was berthed at San Diego, as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet until struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 July 1961,[2] and sold 3 May 1962 to Zidell Exploration of Portland, Oregon for scrapping.