following shakedown off new england, "pelias" sailed for the pacific 9 october 1941. steaming via san diego, california, she arrived pearl harbor 21 november 1941 as the tender for submarine squadron six. six days later she began sub overhauls at the submarine base where she was berthed during the japanese attack 7 december 1941. during the sneak attack her guns splashed one enemy torpedo plane, and damaged a second, as they made their deadly runs along the main channel little more than 100 yards from her port side. she resumed repair duty shortly after the attack and during the early months of the war provided valuable assistance as the united states pacific fleet prepared for the long struggle for supremacy of the pacific.