In April 1937, "Litchfield", as part of the Battle Fleet, changed her permanent base from the west coast to Pearl Harbor. On 20 May she became flagship of Submarine Squadron 4, Submarine Force, Pearl Harbor, and continued to operate with submarines as war approached and training drills intensified during 1941. In company with the submarine , she departed her base 6 December and returned on 9 December to the destruction wrought by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. With the outbreak of war in the Pacific, "Litchfield"s duties involved the escort of U.S. submarines both in and out of port and anti-submarine patrol off the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Several times she made depth charge runs but no kills were confirmed prior to her departure 6 November 1943 for overhaul at Bremerton, Washington.