Spangenberg remained berthed at Charleston as a unit of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for almost 18 years. In March 1949, she was redesignated a radar picket destroyer escort, DER-223, but, on 1 December 1954, reverted to a destroyer escort, DE-223.
Spangenberg remained based at Charleston for almost two decades as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. In March 1949, she was reclassified as a radar escort ship, DER-223, but in December 1954, she returned to her original designation as a destroyer escort, DE-223.