She served during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of five U-boats.

Designed as a general-purpose vessel, Rochester served on the South Atlantic and East Indies stations on patrol and contraband control until the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939.

[2] At the outbreak of the Second World War Rochester returned to the UK for refitting, and in March 1940 was deployed to convoy escort in the Western Approaches.

On 19 October 1941, while with convoy HG 75, Rochester together with the corvette HMS Mallow sank U-204 by depth charges.

[5] In February 1942, with 43 EG escorting convoy OS 18, Rochester and corvette Tamarisk intercepted U-82 in transit from US East Coast and destroyed her.