On 4 December 1943, "Goldsborough" sailed with the "Core" task group. Near midnight of 2 January 1944, she made visual contact with a surfaced U-boat off the Azores, fought through heavy seas in an attempt to ram amidships. She just missed the U-boat's stern as it slid under the sea. After two depth charge attacks, "Goldsborough" lost contact. She then screened "Core" to Norfolk 18 January and proceeded to New York Navy Yard for voyage repairs. Thereafter, she escorted to Trinidad, returning to Norfolk as escort of then entered the Charleston Navy Yard on 21 February 1944 for conversion to a high-speed transport, and redesignation as APD-32, 7 March 1944.