Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Muna 1942, "Ward" yakatumirwa kuWest Coast kuti igadziridzwe kuva ngarava inotakura zvinhu inokurumidza. Redesignated APD-16 muna February 1943, iye steamed kuSouth Pacific kushanda muna Solomon Islands nharaunda. Akabatsira kurwisa kurwisa kweJapan kunorwisa kweTulagi musi waApril 7, 1943, uye akapedza nguva yakawanda yegore iroro rakasara pakufambisa uye kutakura basa. Muna December, akabatanidzwa mukupinda kweCape Gloucester. Mukati memwedzi mipfumbamwe yokutanga ya1944, "Ward" yakaramba ichiperekedza uye ichifambisa basa rayo uye yakatorawo rutivi mukubhururuka kwakasiyana-siyana kweSouthwest Pacific, pakati pavo kurwisa Saidor, Nissan Island,
Emirau, Aitape, Biak, Cape Sansapor, uye Morotai.