[9][10][11] Craven cruised along the United States East Coast and in the Caribbean in training, maneuvers, and torpedo practice, until 3 May 1919 when she sailed from New York for Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland.

Here she served on a weather station and observed the flight of Navy seaplanes in the historic first aerial crossing of the Atlantic.

She transported liberty parties between Charleston and Jacksonville, Florida, and took part in the fleet maneuvers off Virginia and in Narragansett Bay.

Severely damaged in enemy air raids on 21 and 22 April 1941, she remained out of action until December 1941, when she joined the Home Fleet.

Lewes escorted a troop convoy on its way to the Middle East and arrived at Simonstown, South Africa, 18 May 1943.

As well as serving as a target ship for aircraft during their training, she searched for enemy submarines reported rounding the Cape of Good Hope.

She was based at Trincomalee, Ceylon, until January 1945, when she was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet as a target ship for aircraft training.