detached from the u.s. pacific fleet, "mercury" sailed from san francisco 12 october and transited the panama canal to begin operations with service force, atlantic fleet. for the next 4 years she plied between the united states and europe, supporting ashore and afloat units of naval forces, eastern atlantic ocean and mediterranean. in 1950 she began operating with the 6th fleet in the mediterranean as the on station fleet issue ship with underway support group, alternating tours in that role with . arriving at norfolk, virginia, 16 october 1958, she completed her last mission in that capacity, a 10-month tour during which she set records for underway transfer rates while supporting the 6th fleet during the lebanon crisis.