After shakedown in the Caribbean to test her antisubmarine equipment, Hartley joined Escort Squadron 14 in Newport, Rhode Island, for a series of ASW and convoy tactics exercises on 28 January 1958.

After a series of ASW exercises out of her home port, Hartley sailed with CortRon 14 for an extended South American cruise 6 February 1959.

Hartley returned to Newport 5 May 1959 and engaged in further escort and ASW exercises until June 1960, when she entered Monroe Shipyard, Chelsea, Massachusetts, for installation of a new high-speed sonar dome.

In October 1961, Hartley sailed to Norfolk to work with NASA research teams in improving shipboard recovery and space capsule egress procedures for American astronauts.

After another tour with the Sonar School at Key West, Hartley prepared for BEAGLE II, a joint Canadian-American exercise which was cancelled because of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962.

Returning to Newport 8 April, she spent the remainder of the year participating in antisubmarine exercises which sent her from the Gulf of Maine to the Straits of Florida.

After conducting surveillance patrols and sonar training out of Key West during the early part of 1965, she was heavily damaged by the Norwegian freighter Blue Master 16 June.