She served in the Atlantic Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys.

She was laid down by Consolidated Steel Co., Orange, Texas, 14 July 1942; launched 12 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Rae W. Fabens, and commissioned 25 June 1943.

On 9 April 1944, Pope's task group sank the German submarine U-515 off French Morocco, and on 4 June, she participated in the capture of U-505 west of Cape Blanche.

She assisted in the sinking of the U-boat U-546 on 24 April 1945. Notable crew members were science writer Martin Gardner and pharmacologist Alexander Shulgin.

After returning to the U.S., Pope performed plane guard duties for the aircraft carrier USS Solomons off Norfolk, Virginia and Mayport, Florida, and then she began withdrawal from service.