During August and September 1958, the Hammerberg was part of Navy Task Force 88 (TF-88), during Operation Argus, which was involved in conducting nuclear tests in the very high atmosphere.

On 7 November, Hammerberg was en route south to NS Mayport, Fla., where she was diverted to patrol the Florida Coast during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On 30 November, Hammerberg sailed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for participation in "PHIBASWEX I-63", a large-scale amphibious, ASW operation with over 30 other units of the Atlantic Fleet.

On 17 December, she arrived Newport, R.I. During 1964, Hammerberg participated in Operations "Springboard", "Canus Silex", and "Steel Pike", all exercises to sharpen the ship and crew not only in her important mission of locating and destroying submarines, but also in patrol, escort, rescue, evacuation, blockade and surveillance assignments.

She then trained off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in August 1966 rendezvoused with escort Van Voorhis, guided missile frigate Leahy and submarine Requin off Trinidad to participate in Operation "Unitas VII" through November.

In late March while serving plane guard duty astern of USS Essex (CVS 9), Hammerberg attempted to rescue the crew of a downed SH3A Sikorsky Sea King helicopter.

In April 1967, Hammerberg participated in operation "Clove Hitch III", a joint armed forces amphibious assault exercise in the Caribbean, with liberty ports in San Juan and St. Thomas, returning to Newport on 2 May.