Florikan was launched 14 June 1942 by Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California; sponsored by Mrs. L. Sahm; and commissioned 5 April 1943.

From 3 to 20 July 1943, Florikan aided in the training of submarines at Pearl Harbor, acting as target, screening, escort, and torpedo recovery vessel.

Assigned to home port at San Diego, Florikan first arrived there 12 September 1946, and through the next 15 years, trained submarine rescue personnel there, took part in fleet exercises and training operations, and brought her specialized services to the Far East in a tour of duty with the 7th Fleet each year save 1952, 1954, 1956, and 1958.

She was decommissioned on 2 August 1991 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 3 September 1991 and remained at Inactive Ships, Pearl Harbor until 6 October 2000, when she entered the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet.

[1] On 28 November 2006, she was cleaned for possible use as a SINKEX target, but instead MARAD issued a contract to dismantle Florikan on 2 July 2010 to Marine Metals of Brownsville, Tx for $895,708.