She was hurriedly outfitted for trooping duties, and at daybreak on 14 June, Tenadores — with fellow Army transport ships Saratoga, Havana, and Pastores, accompanied by cruisers Seattle, DeKalb, destroyers Wilkes, Terry, Roe, and converted yacht Corsair — set out from Ambrose Light for Brest, France, in the first group of the first American troop convoy to France during World War I.

[1][2] Corsair was unable to maintain the 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h) pace and fell back, being replaced by destroyer Fanning from the second group.

[3] At 22:15 on 22 June, some 850 nmi (980 mi; 1,570 km) from its intended destination of Brest, Saratoga's group of the convoy was attacked by submarines.

During unsuccessful efforts to refloat the ship, some 80 long tons (81 t) of supplies were removed from the stricken vessel and taken to Saint-Nazaire.

On 2 January 1919, Hubbard returned to Tenadores for one last attempt to salvage the ship but was thwarted by high seas and the hopeless state of the transport, which was lying on her starboard side and breaking up.