Following shakedown, Giraffe put in at Funafuti, Ellice Islands, on 10 February 1944 and subsequently refueled warships at Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam, Ulithi, and Palau before reaching Okinawa on 21 July 1945.

She entered Sasebo, Japan, on 20 November at war's end and served the occupation fleet until departing Yokosuka on 21 February 1946 for Pearl Harbor and Norfolk, Virginia.

Returned to the War Department that date, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 3 July 1946.

Giraffe was awarded two battle stars for World War II service.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.