Neutrality Patrol
She remained there until after war broke out in Europe in September 1939. To keep the war out of the Americas, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued two Neutrality Acts on 5 September and ordered the Navy to form a Neutrality Patrol. A month later, on 4 October 1939, "Tarbell" was placed back in commission at Philadelphia, Lieutenant Commander Edward W. Rawlins in command. She operated in the Atlantic with the Neutrality Patrol for over two years before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor jolted the United States into the war.