Laid down on 26 February 1942 by the Dravo Corporation, Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, launched on 11 July 1942, and commissioned on 22 October 1942.

She arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on 4 February 1943 for operations in Chesapeake Bay until 10 March, when she sailed on escort duty to Bermuda.

She moved on to Naples, Italy, and Ajaccio, Corsica, from which she cleared 13 August for the invasion of southern France.

During the initial assault, she acted as reference vessel for the waves of landing craft bringing the troops ashore, then patrolled off the transport area.

At the close of September, she began general escort duty in the western Mediterranean until 27 May 1945 when she sailed for Jacksonville, Florida.