The United States' entrance into World War II extended Osprey's coastal patrol and escort duties first to the Caribbean area, and by 8 November to North Africa.

On "D-Day" of "Operation Torch" she helped direct and protect the waves of landing craft moving shoreward at Port Lyautey, Morocco.

Anti-submarine patrol off Casablanca preceded her return to another year of coastal escort assignments out of Norfolk, Virginia.

With other units of Minesweeper Squadron 7 (MinRon 7), she had successfully conducted sweeping operations off Tor Bay, England.

"At about 1700 on 5 June, minesweeper USS Osprey hit a mine that blew a large hole in the forward engine room.