 Laid down on 11 May 1942 by the Jakobson Shipyard, Inc., Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, launched on 7 September 1942, and commissioned on 5 February 1943.The ship was reclassified as a submarine chaser, PC-1599, 1 June 1944, and reclassified again as a control submarine chaser, PCC-1599, 20 August 1945.Between 25 February and 12 May 1943, "Exploit" served on patrol, swept mines, and joined in amphibious exercises in Chesapeake Bay, based at Norfolk, Virginia.