 "Launceston" was laid down by Evans Deakin & Co at Brisbane, Queensland on 23 December 1940.She was launched on 30 June 1941 by the wife of William Forgan Smith, then Premier of Queensland, and was commissioned into the RAN on 9 April 1942.After entering service, "Launceston" was initially assigned to convoy escort duties in Australian waters before sailing to Colombo in September 1942 to join the British Eastern Fleet.