The ship's German career began with a maiden voyage from Bremerhaven to New York City on 11 April 1908.

On 3 January 1917 near Crete, the Huntsend was damaged by a torpedo fired by the German U-boat SM UB-47.

[4] On 4 January at 11:15 am, HMS Pelorus reported receiving 5 military officers and 6 mercantile ratings who were survivors from the Huntsend, which had been towed to port.

[5][6] In April 1917, the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company reported that the damaged ship was in a dry dock in Tyne and Wear, England.

[7] During the 1918 flu pandemic, the Huntsend departed Montreal on 26 September 1918 with 649 Canadian soldiers on board.