Then returning to Southern California, she served as a tugboat for a year and on 3 May 1922 decommissioned at Mare Island, California. Recommissioned 11 July, she assumed the duties of tender at the Submarine Base, San Pedro, California. From 9 June to 25 August 1923 she conducted cold weather operations off Alaska in her first extended cruise as flagship, Commander, Composite Submarine Squadrons Pacific in company with and four S-class submarines. While in Anchorage, Alaska on 17 July 1923 the submarine was accidentally sunk alongside "Ortolan" during maintenance, but was quickly raised and there was no loss of life though the submarine's motors were damaged requiring tow by "Ortolan".