Petrel was laid down on 26 February 1945, was built by Savannah Machine Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia; launched on 26 September 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Effie Jeffreys (in honour of her son, MMC Romie L. Jeffreys, who died along with all hands on the submarine USS Shark (SS-174) on 11 February 1942), and commissioned at Savannah on 24 September 1946, Lt. Dennis Hima in command.