 "Davison" was launched on 19 July 1942 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; sponsored by Davison's widow, Alice Shepard Davison.The ship was commissioned on 11 September 1942, with Lieutenant Commander W. C. Winn in command.She cleared New York on 13 November 1942, screening transports carrying reinforcement troops and supplies to Safi, French Morocco between 8 December and 18 December.