She was renamed H-3 on 17 November 1911, launched on 3 July 1913 sponsored by Ms. Helen MacEwan, and commissioned at Puget Sound on 16 January 1914, Lieutenant, junior grade William R. Munroe in command.

After shakedown, H-3 was attached to the Pacific Fleet and began operations along the coast from lower California to Washington, exercising frequently with H-1 and H-2.

[1] Combined efforts of Iroquois and Cheyenne were unable to dislodge H-3, so both ships returned to Mare Island while the Navy requested bids from commercial salvage firms.

[1] Navy officials at Mare Island regarded the lumber company proposal as infeasible and felt the salvage firm bid was excessive.

She then returned to San Pedro, California, where she served as flagship of Submarine Division 7 (SubDiv 7), participating in exercises and operations along the coast until 1922.