"Cony" was launched 16 August 1942 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, sponsored by Mrs. William R. Sleight, a first cousin of Joseph S. Cony in whose honor the destroyer is named, in part of the largest mass launch to that point in the war shipbuilding program and the largest in Maine's history in which five British Ocean type freighters, the Liberty , and "Cony" were launched. The ship was commissioned 30 October 1942 at Boston, Lieutenant Commander Harry D. Johnson in command.