Her namesake is an Athabascan Native American tribe of northwestern California that formerly occupied the coast from the Klamath River to the Oregon border.

The engines produced a total of 3,600 shaft horsepower (2,700 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).

They carried a maximum of 10 tonnes (10 long tons) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 15,000 nmi (28,000 km; 17,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).

On 11 September 1945, Tolowa headed for the Philippines and operated there until late in October, when she took two tows from Subic Bay to Hong Kong.

On 16 April, Tolowa began the long return voyage to the U.S. She called at Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Johnston, and Oahu before arriving at San Diego on 9 July.

Restored to operational condition by the sailors of the Beaumont (Texas) Naval Reserve Ship Activation Maintenance and Repair Division,[3] Tolowa was transferred to the government of Venezuela, manned by the Beaumont reservists and 18 Venezuelan Navy sailors who would learn of their new ship during the journey to Venezuela.