The USS Belmont began her career as the Iran Victory, a victory ship built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon. Launched in April of 1944, the Iran Victory was turned over to the U.S. Maritime Commission and after seeing limited service in World War II, was retired to mothballs and remained therein, until being selected by the Navy for conversion to a technical research ship. The conversion was undertaken in February of 1963 by the Willamette Iron and Steel Company of Portland, Oregon and culminated in the ship's commissioning in November 1964 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington under the new name BELMONT, of which there are twelve cities in the following states: California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The USS Belmont received two unit awards. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was award twice for service off the Dominican Republic during a revolt in 1965. See https://awards.navy.mil. The USS Belmont also has the National Defense Service Medal.