After shakedown in the Pacific, Henley headed east, reporting to the Sonar School at Key West on 19 February 1947 for a five-month tour of duty.

On her second tour in the Mediterranean Sea, Henley patrolled with other United Nations ships in the summer of 1948 as the Israeli-Arab dispute threatened to erupt into war.

Henley was detached from this duty and made a cruise to northern European ports, including a journey up the Seine to Rouen, before returning to Norfolk in February 1952.

Following years fell into a pattern for Henley as she alternated Mediterranean cruises with anti-submarine warfare and other tactical exercises off the east coast and in the Caribbean Sea.

Manned by a nucleus crew of 100 officers and men on active duty, she cruised along the Atlantic coast and into the Caribbean Sea during the next eight years and provided valuable service as an at-sea training platform for hundreds of Naval Reservists.