[2] She was then handed over to the United States Navy, who commissioned her as USS Zeppelin and assigned to the New York Division of the Transport Force with Commander William W. Galbraith as her master.

USS Zeppelin made two round-trip voyages between the United States and Europe, returning 15,800 American soldiers back home.

The UK Government sold her to the Orient Steam Navigation Company in 1920, who renamed her SS Ormuz and had her refitted as a passenger liner.

The gold was transferred to the cargo ship Reiher 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom to prevent it being seized by the French when she docked at Cherbourg, Manche, France.

[2] In the early hours of 21 June she listed to port and the Norwegian "Hurtigrute" ship, DSD (Det Stavangerske Dampskibsselskap) 874 ton Kong Haakon,[6] was one of those which took off her passengers.