after completing her shakedown in the chesapeake bay area, "stratford" sailed from norfolk, virginia, on 23 october, for iceland, via new york city and nova scotia. she arrived at reykjavík on 16 november 1941 and operated there until 25 march 1942 when she returned to boston, massachusetts. the transport made another cruise to iceland and returned to boston, massachusetts, on 27 june. she was ordered to proceed to california, via norfolk, key west, florida, guantánamo bay, and the panama canal zone.