"Wichita" sortied on 12 May to relieve "Tuscaloosa", which was patrolling the Denmark Strait. "Wichita" returned to Hvalfjörður a week later, before putting to sea as part of another Allied convoy escort protecting one leg of the movement of Murmansk-bound convoy PQ 16 and eastbound QP 12. She put into Scapa Flow on 29 May after completing the mission. While in Scapa Flow, King George VI inspected "Wichita" on 7 June. "Wichita" left Scapa Flow on 12 June, bound for Hvalfjörður, and arrived 14 June. She then relieved the British cruiser on patrol in the Denmark Strait. While on patrol on 17 June, "Wichita" spotted a German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 reconnaissance bomber and opened fire, though without result. Three days later, she engaged another Fw 200, again without success.