The ship was built in 1937 as the wooden purse seiner New Conti di Savoia by the Harbor Boat Works, Terminal Island, California; was purchased for U.S. Navy use on 28 October 1940 from the New Conti di Savoia Fishing Corp., San Pedro, California; converted to a coastal minesweeper by the Al Larson Boat Shop, San Pedro, California; and placed in service as Sanderling on 18 April 1941.