"Chatelain" (DE-149) was launched 21 April 1943 by Consolidated Steel Corp. of Orange, Texas; sponsored by Mrs. L. T. Chatelain; commissioned 22 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander J. L. Foley in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.Destined to play an important part in sweeping the Atlantic of German submarines, "Chatelain" escorted two convoys from east coast ports to Derry and Gibraltar between 20 November 1943 and 7 March 1944, and was then assigned to operate as part of the hunter-killer group formed around .