The ship was the first of 32 vessels of the Auk class ordered for transfer to Great Britain under Lend-Lease, and designated British Minesweeper HMS Akbar (BAM-1).

Launched on 12 December 1942 by General Engineering & Dry Dock Company, Alameda, California; redesignated USS Champion (AM-314) on 23 January 1943, and commissioned on 8 September 1943.

In these dangerous waters she conducted minesweeping operations, and served in screens, from 24 March to 19 June, aside from a convoy escort voyage to Saipan from 25 April to 19 May.

On 16 April, a kamikaze suicide plane crashed close aboard Champion, spraying debris which slightly damaged her, and wounded four of her men.

In support of Far Eastern occupation activities, Champion sailed from San Pedro, California on 4 December 1945, called at Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, and arrived at Sasebo, Japan on 1 February 1946.