After a visit to New York and installation of radar-guided fire control equipment for her 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, "Savannah" became the flagship of a midshipmen's training squadron under Rear Admiral Frank E. Beatty. "Savannah" departed from Annapolis on 7 June 1945 for training at sea with over 400 midshipmen aboard. After two such cruises to Cuba and back, "Savannah" disembarked the midshipmen at Annapolis on 30 September, took on others, and steamed on 1 October towards Pensacola, Florida. She spent the Navy Day celebrations from 25 to 30 October 1945 in her namesake city of Savannah. She then returned to Norfolk on 1 November to prepare for service in the huge Operation Magic Carpet naval fleet which was returning hundreds of thousands of overseas war veterans home to the United States.