USS Abel P. Upshur decommissioned and transferred in the destroyer-land bases exchange to Great Britain, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 9 September 1940.

From 1940 to 1944, as HMS Clare, she escorted convoys in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the early hours of 21 February 1941 she collided with the motor vessel Petertown and was out of action, undergoing repairs, until October 1941.

During 1942 and 1943 Clare took part in the Invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In May 1944 she became an aircraft target ship in the Western Approaches Command. In August 1945 she was reduced to reserve at Greenock, Scotland, and later berthed at Barrow, England, awaiting disposal. She was scrapped in 1945.

Commanding Officers:
Lt.Cdr. Clive Gwinner, RN (retired)
9 September 1940 – ???

HMS Clare in Dockyard Control during refit / reconstruction

Lt.Cdr. Leopold Hewetson Landman, RN
21 August 1941 – 22 December 1942

Lt.Cdr. John Parker Stewart, DSC, RNR
22 December 1942 – June 1942

Lt.Cdr. Gilbert Shaw Grant, RNR
June 1943 - ???
RD awarded on 31 December1943

HMS Clare in Dockyard Control during refit

Lt. Duncan MacDonald, RNR
9 May 1944 - ???

T/Lt. David Sugden Thorp, DSC, RNVR
??? – 10 April 1945

T/Lt. James Allen Anderson, RNVR
10 April 1945 – 1 May 1945

T/A/Lt.Cdr. Patrick Arthur Tritton, RNVR
May 1945 – still in command in July 1945 according to the Navy List

HMS Clare is not listed in the October 1945 Navy List