Starting in January 1963, the destroyer conducted numerous training exercises off Hawaii, including submarine target services and a training mission with Canadian frigates and . In April, during a convoy exercise, the destroyer's simulated attacks "sank" and . On 11 July, "Carpenter" steamed south for a short training cruise to American Samoa, visiting Pago Pago, Tutuila, for three days before returning to Pearl Harbor. In August, the warship participated in fleet exercises, culminating in a convoy screen mission during which helicopters, surface ships, and Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) drones all dropped exercise torpedoes on "attacking" submarines. On 10 August "Carpenter" was declared "out of action" following a simulated Regulus cruise missile attack guided in by .