Assigned to the Pacific Station, her first service was to escort four of the newly constructed "O"-class submarines (O-boats) from San Pedro, California, to Coco Solo in the Canal Zone. There she was assigned as tender to Submarine Division 14 (SubDiv 14). At this time, because diesel submarines had limited range and were prone to engine failures, their operations were generally confined to the coastal waters off American submarine bases. Before the war, there was only one submarine tender in commission and only three submarine bases in operation: one at New London, Connecticut; another at San Pedro, California, and the third at Coco Solo in Panama.