The destroyer was first deployed to East Asia, then the Mediterranean, where she remained for the rest of World War I.

After returning to Australia, the destroyer was decommissioned, but saw use in several ports for reservist training before the decision to sell her for scrap was made.

[1] Torrens and sister ship Swan were first assigned to the British Far East Patrol.

[2] Torrens began her Mediterranean assignment by escorting a convoy from Port Said to Malta, where she underwent and refits.

[2] The heavy but monotonous workload forced the destroyer to visit Malta in December for another refit.

[6] During the general reduction in naval activity imposed by lack of finance during the Great Depression, it was decided to scrap Torrens and her five sister ships.

[6] On 24 November 1930, after being stripped of useful materials, Torrens was towed outside Sydney Heads by the tug Heroic, and was used for gunnery target practice.