USAT "Meigs" was one of the small fleet the Army maintained during the inter-war years and operated in the Pacific as a freight and animal transport. In 1939, with USAT "Ludington", "Meigs" was one of only two Army owned freight transports. Included in the requirement to transport army goods and personal possessions of personnel changing duty stations to the Pacific was transport of cavalry and personal horses of officers with occasional mention of the ship transporting notable horses or owners transferring between Pacific and continental postings. In July 1938 "Meigs" found an oil slick along the course of the lost Pan American flying boat "Hawaii Clipper" about 500 miles from Manila, took samples and stood by for further investigation.