Commissioned in the United States Navy as the USS Atherton (DE-169) in 1943, she was mostly assigned at the Atlantic theater doing patrols and anti-submarine missions.

Together with her sister ship JDS Asahi, they became one of the first warships of the newly organized Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

[4][6] As a Philippine Navy ship, she was named RPS Rajah Humabon (PS-78), and was towed to South Korea for an extensive refit and modernization in 1979.

[4] During this period South Korea also turned over two of their own ex-USN Cannon-class ships to the US Navy in 1977, namely the Kyong Ki (DE-71) / Muir and Kang Won (DE-72) / Sutton.

These were also turned-over by the US to the Philippine government, which were later on cannibalized for use as parts hulk to upgrade and repair the Rajah Humabon and her sister ship Datu Sikatuna.

But due to pressing needs, she was later called back into service in 1995 after being overhauled at the Cavite Naval Dockyard by Hatch & Kirk Inc., and was formally recommissioned in January 1996 as BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11) with a new hull number.

She had been experiencing hull problems, but was repaired with the assistance of the crew of the US Navy's ship USS Salvor during CARAT 2002 dive training operations held in Manila Bay.

[11][12] Additional electronic upgrades were made, including the installation of a Furuno Satellite Communication system and a mast-mounted FLIR package.

[4] Previously equipped with an EDO AN/SQS-17B hull-mounted sonar, it is said to be deleted in 1996 due to lack of spare parts and obsolescence[11][20] although it was reported to be still present in 2004.

[27] Rajah Humabon, together with BRP Gregorio del Pilar participated in the sea phase exercises with the US Navy during the Balikatan 2013 from 5 to 17 April 2013.