Slightly faster and larger than the escort destroyers they succeeded, the Dealey class were fitted with twin-mounted 3-inch (76 mm) guns, anti-submarine (ASW) rockets, a depth charge rack and six depth charge launchers.

The drone helicopters proved very unreliable and their failure contributed to the relatively short life of the class.

In the late 1940s, the US Navy developed a requirement for a replacement for the PC-461-class submarine chaser in the coastal convoy escort and patrol roles.

The ships would need to be cheap and quick to build, as large numbers would be required in the event of a war.

The machinery was rated at 20,000 shaft horsepower (15,000 kW) which gave a design speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph).

The Dealey design formed the basis for the Norwegian Oslo-class and Portuguese Admiral Pereira da Silva-class frigates.