Mers El Kébir
She completed fitting out at the Boston Navy Yard on 9 January 1943 and reported for shakedown a few days later. In late March, she sailed in the screen of convoy UGS-6 bound for North Africa. The convoy arrived at Mers El Kébir on 13 April, and "Staff" remained there until the 20th. She joined other minesweepers in conducting antisubmarine patrols off the Gulf of Arzeu until the end of May. During the first three weeks in June, "Staff" swept mines off the Gulf of Oran, returning to the Mers El Kébir anchorage each night.