"Bellatrix" was assigned to the US Pacific theater of operations and took part in the Battle of Guadalcanal. This was followed by a transfer to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and participation in the Allied invasion of Sicily. Returning to the Pacific, "Bellatrix" took part in the Battle of Saipan, the attack cargo ship's last combat operation in World War II. The vessel was decommissioned in April 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission. The ship was reactivated for the Korean War, transporting supplies from Japan to the Korean peninsula before being decommissioned again. Placed in reserve, the ship was sold to Peru in 1953 and renamed BAP "Independencia". The vessel remained in service until 1991 when "Independencia" was sold for scrap. However, while being towed to the ship breakers, the vessel sank.