Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transport Service in January 1918, Pensacola carried supplies from the United States to French and British ports. Returning from Brest to Philadelphia on 2 December 1918, she steamed to New York and sailed for Turkey on 25 January 1919 with a cargo for the Syrian-Armenian Relief, arriving at Constantinople on 12 March.
In January 1918, Pensacola was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transport Service. She transported supplies from the United States to French and British ports. After returning from Brest to Philadelphia on December 2, 1918, she sailed to New York and headed for Turkey with a cargo for the Syrian-Armenian Relief on January 25, 1919, arriving in Constantinople on March 12.