Locator (YAGR-6) was laid down on 9 February 1945, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2347, as the Liberty Ship Frank O. Peterson, by J.A.

She was launched 23 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Flynn, and delivered on 6 April 1945, to International Freigting Corp.[5][2] She was acquired by the Navy from the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 10 June 1955.

[5][3] Departing Charleston, 21 February, Locator steamed through the Panama Canal, and arrived San Francisco, California, 17 March.

After a period of repair and training she was assigned to a radar picket station off the US West Coast.

[5] Locator was reclassified AGR-6 on 28 September 1958, and for the next 7 years continued the constant vigil at sea, ever ready to sound the signal of enemy air attack.