Navy during World War II. She served in the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean and provided destroyer escort protection against submarine and air attack for Navy vessels and convoys. She was named in honor of Charles Swasey who was wounded during an engagement with Confederate forces near Donaldsonville, Louisiana , on 4 October and died the same day. Swasey departed for Galveston, Texas , on 4 September and, after provisioning on the 12th, moved to New Orleans , Louisiana, the next day.
She stood out of New Orleans on 14 September en route to Bermuda for her shakedown cruise which lasted until 23 October when she put into the Charleston Navy Yard for availability. On 3 November the escort was underway for Norfolk, Virginia , and additional yard work. Two weeks later she made a round trip to New York City and returned on 21 November. After an uneventful crossing, the escort was waiting to enter New York Harbor on 3 January when an explosion rocked USS Turner 3, yards 2, m away.
Swasey proceeded at best speed to aid the stricken ship but could not go alongside as small craft were nearing Turner at the time. The motor whaleboat was lowered with a fire and rescue party to board Turner if possible. Swasey managed to close within 20 yards 18 m of Turner, and all fire hoses were brought to bear on Turner's flames, but the water was ineffective on the roaring inferno. Swasey continued to direct small boats until when, after a large explosion, Turner capsized and sank.
The convoy consisted of 60 merchant ships and six LSTs. The crossing was uneventful until the convoy had passed the Straits of Gibraltar and was off the coast of Algeria. In the evening of 11 April, an enemy aircraft was reported in the area.
Just before midnight a force of approximately two dozen German Dornier s and Junkers 88s attacked the convoy. A smoke screen was laid to cover the convoy; and, as a result, the escorts were attacked. At hours, Swasey's guns opened fire on a torpedo plane approaching on the port bow.
