The ship, originally designated a "patrol gunboat," PG-188, was ordered by the United States Maritime Commission under a United States Navy contract as USS Harvey. She was reclassified as a "patrol frigate," PF-80, on 15 April 1943 and laid down by the Walsh-Kaiser Company at Providence, Rhode Island, on 7 August 1943. Intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, the ship was renamed Gold Coast and then again renamed Labuan by the British prior to launching. She was launched on 21 September 1943.
Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 5 February 1944, the ship served in the Royal Navy as HMS Labuan (pennant K584) on patrol and escort duty in the English Channel. On 27 February 1945, she shared credit with the British frigate and the British sloop for the sinking with depth charges of the German submarine in the western part of the English Channel at 49.7667°N -5.7833°W.
The United Kingdom returned Labuan to the U.S. Navy on 13 May 1946. She was sold to the Heggie Iron and Metal Company of Dorchester, Massachusetts, on 9 July 1957 for scrapping.