[1] During sea trials, McLanahan reached a speed of 34.16 kn (39.31 mph; 63.26 km/h),[5] with her machinery producing 27,050 shp (20,170 kW).

[7][8][9] After shakedown off the Massachusetts coast,[7] and a cruise in European waters, McLanahan was assigned to the Pacific Fleet in October 1919, being based at San Diego, California.

McLanahan was recommissioned at San Diego on 18 December 1939 and following overhaul and fitting out, was transferred on the East coast of the United States.

[7][11] After crossing the Atlantic, Bradford was refitted at Devonport dockyard, but after a number of defects were discovered during post-refit workup, it was decided to modify the ship as a long-range escort.

[16] On 3 May 1943 she was declared no longer fit for ocean escort work,[7] and was paid off, and towed to Devonport where she served as an accommodation ship for Combined Services operations until the end of the war.

[11] The ship was transferred to British Iron & Steel Corporation for disposal on 19 June 1946 and arrived at Troon for scrapping by the West of Scotland Shipbreaking Company in August that year.