She was laid down on 6 May 1943 as Bridgeport, Maritime Commission (MARCOM) hull 1465, and originally classified as patrol gunboat, PG-166, on 6 May 1943, at the Globe Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin.

[1] She was launched on 21 August 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Thomas F. Rogers; acquired by the Navy on 31 May 1944;[2] renamed Abilene, reclassified a patrol frigate, and assigned hull number PF-58 on 28 June 1944;[3] and commissioned on 28 October 1944 with Lieutenant Commander Chester I.

[2] Following shakedown at Bermuda, Abilene steamed to NS Argentina, Newfoundland, where she joined the North Atlantic Weather Patrol.

[2] After a brief period of upkeep at Boston, Massachusetts, Abilene assumed air-sea rescue duties in the Atlantic in June 1945.

As a member of Task Group 24.5, the patrol vessel collected weather data while serving as a plane guard along the air routes between Europe and the United States.