 She next operated for a time in the Caribbean — Aruba, Netherlands West Indies; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; and Trinidad, British West Indies, before making two round-trip voyages from Houston and Port Arthur, Texas, with petroleum products for Norfolk.She again called at Bremerhaven and Naples before she moved to the Far East, transiting the Suez Canal, calling at Bahrain, transiting the Strait of Malacca, and arriving at Manila on 23 October 1949.While en route to the Philippines, "Tappahannock" was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and designated T-AO-43.