Plaice was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, on 14 July 1943; launched on 15 November 1943, sponsored by Miss Eleanor Fazzi; and commissioned on 12 February 1944.

In the early afternoon on 7 September, Plaice scored one torpedo hit on a Kongō Maru-class liner converted to an auxiliary cruiser.

Plaice departed Pearl Harbor on 9 November for her third patrol in the Southwestern Japanese Empire off the coast of Shikoku and Kyūshū.

Plaice was part of a coordinated attack group which included Archer-Fish, Batfish, Blackfish, Scabbardfish, and Sea Poacher.

When all her larger ammunition had been expended, she drove the remaining two luggers toward the beach and damaged them by 20 mm and small arms fire.

The sixth patrol - commencing on 18 July - took Plaice to the East China Sea area, but she made no enemy contacts.

After the war was over, Plaice operated in the Pacific until, by directive dated November 1947, she was placed out of commission, in reserve, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

Bahia took part in UNITAS naval exercises and assisted in surveillance in the South Atlantic Ocean during the Cold War.