After steaming to Norfolk, she sailed for the British West Indies 26 August to serve briefly as plane guard to . She rendezvoused with a convoy in the Caribbean and headed for North Africa. Diverted to New York, she docked there 14 September. Routine training exercises turned into tragedy 15 October as "Greer" collided with off the mouth of Indian River, Delaware Capes (35 miles (56 km) south-east of Cape May, New Jersey). "Moonstone" sank in less than 4 minutes, but "Greer" rescued all the crew but one.