"manley" sailed for norfolk, virginia on 1 february 1937 to join desron 10 in training midshipmen. on 26 october 1937 she sailed from boston, massachusetts with to serve with squadron 40-t in protecting american interests in the mediterranean during the spanish civil war. she operated principally from villefranche, naples, algiers, and tangiers until she departed gibraltar on 29 october 1938, arriving norfolk on 11 november 1938. reclassified a miscellaneous auxiliary on 28 november, she was redesignated ag-28.