Hugh Purvis sailed for her first European cruise 2 February 1947 and after exercises with allied ships in the north Atlantic, formed a part of the United States' official party at the burial of King Christian X of Denmark in April.

Hugh Purvis made reserve training cruises out of the gulf port until returning to Newport and regular fleet duties 10 December 1950.

Hugh Purvis spent 1954 on training operations the western Atlantic, but sailed 5 January 1955 for another important deployment with the 6th Fleet.

During this period, American power afloat did much to dampen the Suez Crisis and to discourage foreign interference in this vital area.

While in the Persian Gulf in October 1956, Hugh Purvis acted as an escort vessel during evacuation of refugees from Haifa, Israel, and the removal of United Nations Truce Team officials from Gaza, Egypt.

During the summer of 1957, the destroyer took part in another midshipman training cruise to Chile and the Panama Canal Zone, and operated with NATO units in the north Atlantic.

It was during this crucial period that the 6th Fleet was proving its peacekeeping power in the Lebanon Crisis, and was successful in preventing a leftist revolt.

After her return from Europe in August 1958 she began 16 months of training and experimental work with the Destroyer Development Group designed to increase her fighting capacity for the modern navy.

In March 1960 she entered Boston Naval Shipyard to begin a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, which included extensive refitting and the installation of a helicopter landing deck and hangar aft.

Sonar exercises occupied her until late October, when the introduction of offensive missiles into Cuba precipitated another Cold War crisis.

Hugh Purvis proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, where she remained on station to provide gunfire support to the Marines during the Cuban Missile Crisis.