She was built by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton, being laid down at their yards on the River Clyde on 25 April 1940, launched on 19 February 1942 and commissioned on 3 September 1942.

In December 1942, while on escort for convoy JW 51B, she was attacked and damaged by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper.

At the end of the war, she escorted the cruiser Norfolk whilst the latter took King Haakon VII back to Norway, followed by post-war work in German waters.

On 14 July 1945 US president Harry Truman transferred to Obdurate from the cruiser USS Philadelphia in the English Channel to travel the rest of his journey to the Potsdam Conference.

[1] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.