Following shakedown Pamina transited the Panama Canal and reported to Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor.

After intensive training with other vessels of her type, she departed Pearl Harbor on 22 April and arrived at Okinawa on 15 May to deliver cargo and to render assistance to combat operations ashore.

At that time she returned northward and after a period in New York Naval Shipyard proceeded to northwest Greenland for extensive priority survey work.

From 1954 to 1958, Tanner operated primarily off the southern coast of Turkey with 27,255 miles (43,863 km) steamed during 139 days in the survey area in the spring and summer of 1956.

Following survey operations in the Western Pacific early in 1969 and with long and distinguished service to her credit, Tanner began her decommissioning process on 14 July.