At 11:15 hours on 5 August 1917, an aide from the office of the Commandant, 4th Naval District, arrived at Vidofner's dock and requested that she make ready to get underway at once.

When the tug failed to comply quickly enough, Vidofner fired two shots in the air, which was sufficient prodding to hurry Sam Weller on her way.

After taking "a bad pounding"[1] in the rough seas, Vidofner dropped both anchors and moored off Brown Shoal Buoy in the hope of riding out the storm.

Ordered to make for the breakwater at Lewes, Delaware, where some measure of shelter was afforded, Vidofner got underway and made haven there on 9 October 1917.

From there, she performed submarine net patrol duties in the Delaware Capes area until she was decommissioned at Essington, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, on 7 December 1917 and returned to her owners.