Laid down on 11 May 1942 by the Jakobson Shipyard, Inc., Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, launched on 7 September 1942, and commissioned on 5 February 1943.

Between 25 February and 12 May 1943, Exploit served on patrol, swept mines, and joined in amphibious exercises in Chesapeake Bay, based at Norfolk, Virginia.

She performed similar duty in Casco Bay, Maine until 13 May 1944, when she returned to Norfolk for conversion to a submarine chaser.

Sailing from Ulithi on 25 March to escort a convoy bound for Okinawa, she served as primary control vessel for "Yellow Beach" during the initial landings on 1 April.

PC-1599 continued to patrol off Okinawa and screen shipping lying off the island until 1 June.