The class was designed under project SCB 131 as a cost-effective version of an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ship that could be built quickly in case of rapid mobilization.

[3] The Claud Jones class were given four Fairbanks Morse 38ND8 diesel engines rated at 9,200 brake horsepower (6,860 kW).

[3][4] In 1961, Charles Berry received a Norwegian-designed Terne III depth charge system deployed via rockets.

Charles Berry arrived at San Diego, her home port, on 3 February 1960, and after shakedown training and overhaul, cleared on 14 June for a tour of duty in the Far East which took her to United Nations trust territories in the charge of the United States, as well as on a good will cruise to Philippines ports.

On one of her tours at Vietnam, the ship experienced a boiler explosion under the radio room which killed one personnel and injured another one.

[9] Charles Berry was decommissioned and stricken on 31 January 1974, and in the same day she was transferred to Indonesian Navy.

[4] The ship participated in Operation Seroja, the invasion of East Timor to oust Fretilin regime.

On 25 November 1975, the ship bombarded Atabae and Railaco, guided by spotter in MBB Bo 105 helicopter.

During the second wave of landings, Martadinata rescued 14 out of 22 personnel from a BTR-50 amphibious APC that sank into Wetar Strait due to faulty engine and leaking hull caused by lack of maintenance and spare parts.