It served as convoy protection in the North Atlantic and as one of about ten PC control vessels off Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion.

[4] PC-552 remained in European waters until 6 June 1945, where after a ceremony commemorating the events of the previous year on that date, a convoy of PCs departed for the Atlantic crossing.

The initial number of officers and men for the PCs commissioned by the United States Navy was almost 24,000, yet a total of 50,000 actually served due to transfers, hospitalizations, etc.

The rates of enlisted men in a typical PC crew were, Boatswain (BM), Ship's Cook (SC), Coxswain (COX), Electrician (ELEC, EM), Fireman (F), Gunner's Mate (GM), Motor Machinist's Mate (MoMM), Pharmacist's Mate (PhM), Quartermaster (QM), Radarman (RD), Radioman (RM), Seaman (SEA), Shipfitter (SF), Signalman (SM), Soundman (SoM), Officer's Steward (SD), Storekeeper (SK) and Yeoman (Y)[24] The USS PC 552 was commissioned on 29 July 1942, Lt. Donald McVickar, USNR commanding.

For most of the remainder of the year, the ship screened convoys between Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, berthing primarily at both places.

The first half of the year was similar to how 1942 was: periodic contacts with potential enemy submarines resulting in instant attacks by PC-552, great care given to zigzagging convoys, detailed deck log entries, etc.

[44] On 25 December 1943, PC-552 was placed in Portsmouth Navy Yard, dry dock #1 to have bottom scraped and painted, then berthed in preparation for the Atlantic crossing.

It then patrolled the European theatre coasts and was based in Dartmouth, Devon, Plymouth, and Falmouth, Britain, then after D-Day, in Cherbourg, France.

This task force included the LCI's (Landing Craft Infantry) 493-503 escorted by the PC's 552, 553, and 1225 and headed to Horta, Azores, on Faial Island.

[44] From 22 to 27 January 1944, PC-552 sailed to River Tamar at Saltash, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom with Task Group 120.2 as part of the escort for LCI's 493-502.

[47] In February and March, the ship escorted traffic around the English coast as well as protected troop during landing exercises, usually in conjunction with PC's 553 and 1225.

As spring grew into summer, the tension became greater and officers and men were confident that the ship they had made ready and trained aboard would do her bit when the fateful day arrived.

Operation Overlord battle plans, for the invasion of Normandy, were received from the Samuel Chase with limited time available to read and understand them.

And these tens of thousands of men and jobs add up to one task only – to land and support and supply and reinforce the finest Army ever sent to battle by the United States.

"[3] Executive officer, Lt. Bradley Moll recalled, " ... it was quite a sight to see the task force gathering in the blue-grey channel mist, grouping from various ports, and destined to control one of the beaches on D-Day.

[55] According to Ted Guzda, "The sea was still rough ... [William Kesnick] lost his helmet while enemy planes were shooting and shore batteries were firing.

It appeared as though the canvas frame work around the top of the tanks buckled due to wave action and by the time the tanks had reached the area of the line of departure so much water had been taken aboard that buoyancy was lost.The entire area 200 yards to shoreward and 300 yards to seaward was filled with survivors, some in inflated life rafts, others with life jackets only.

At this time the wind was from the west force 3, with a short choppy sea dad (sic) with a current setting easterly at about 2 knots.

[65] From 28 to 30 Jun 1944, they received and escorted Convoy CU-49[clarification needed] (Curaçao to the United Kingdom) which was delivering fuel from Venezuelan refineries.

[65] On 1 July 1944, PC-552 departed the coast of France and moored in Dartmouth[66] to receive supplies, new anchors, and make emergency repairs returning to the fleet on the 3rd.

[66] For the first part of July, the ship conducted routine duties including sinking enemy mines with gunfire and covering, identifying and burying a body at sea.

[66] After several days of routine duties, on 4 August 1944 the crew found German human torpedo with a damaged rudder and pilot dead.

A suspected enemy submarine was detected and attacked in January 1945; a raid was launched by the Germans in February which almost resulted in the sinking of a sister patrol craft, the USS PC-564, a fate narrowly missed by PC-552.

[21] Overnight on 6/7 February 1945, PC-552 foiled an attempted night raid against the allies by the garrison commander of the Channel Islands, Admiral Friedrich Hüffmeier.

Most people expected the war with Japan to continue into 1946 or 1947 (no one knew about the atom bomb) and the ship went through an extensive overhaul prior to joining the Pacific Fleet.

[80] "Although the war was still in full force on the other side of the world, the voyage to the U.S. was much like a pleasure cruise, using running lights, being able to smoke on open decks, and even being favored by a calm sea and fair winds.

On 18 June 1945, PC-552 was to depart with the group for Key West, but the port main engine broke down and they returned to Bermuda for repairs with the convoy leaving them behind.

There were great carrier task forces capable of tracking down and sinking the enemy's fleets, beating down his air power, and pouring destruction on his war-making industries.

From January to March 1946, the ship conducted minor training exercises, test runs and spent time in Newport, RI.

[22][88][89] On 30 March 1946, PC-552 began her final voyage as a commissioned Navy ship,[22] traveling to Charleston, SC by 2 April 1946 to unload ammunition and be decommissioned.