Following shakedown off Bermuda, Robert E. Peary made her first run as a convoy escort to North Africa, arriving at Casablanca 13 August.

Early in 1944, Robert E. Peary crossed the Atlantic with a "hunter-killer" group, and upon returning to the United States shifted to the northern sealanes.

While returning to New York on 2 March 1945, Robert E. Peary and Hammann were diverted to aid two merchant ships which had collided.

Redirected to New London, Connecticut, for duty with the Medical Research Department, she conducted binocular experiments, then, proceeded to Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Transferred to the Norfolk, Virginia, berthing area in 1959, she remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until struck from the Navy Directory 1 July 1966.