"manley" was outfitted as a high-speed transport in the new york navy yard by 7 february 1939. her first marine landing force drill was carried out on 21 february when she landed marines in target bay, culebra island in the first of many landing exercises on the virginia and north carolina beaches and in the caribbean that would prove of great benefit to the united states in the vast overseas conflict then just over the horizon. "manley" briefly visited the california coast in the spring of 1940 for marine landing force drills off coronado roads. back in the atlantic, "manley" was officially designated the navy's first high-speed transport on 2 august 1940 when she became apd-1.