FS-396 was constructed by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. at their shipyards at Decatur, Alabama for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps and commissioned 18 January 1945.

She was manned by the U.S. Coast Guard for a period of one year and was used as a cargo ship to carry supplies to Kwajalein Atoll until being decommissioned on 18 January 1946.

[1] FS-396 was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and on 1 October 1947 was recommissioned as USCGC Nettle (WAK-169) after being refitted for use as an aids to navigation tender.

[2] While underway from Bataan on 1 September 1958, Nettle spotted and assisted the capsized junk Low Kow Wong How and rescued two of the crew.

[1] During May 1966, Nettle delivered construction materials from Bangkok for a new LORAN station to be located at Con Son Island.