After minesweeping operations off the Virginia and Maryland coasts, Pocahontas was renamed Chemung on 1 September 1917 and on 19 November 1917 was permanently assigned to Train, Atlantic Fleet, 5th Naval District, for operations in the Norfolk area until 27 January 1919 when she departed for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Arriving 3 February, Chemung served in the Caribbean until 9 April. In March she towed the disabled HMS Shearwater into Kingston, Jamaica; for this humanitarian operation she was commended by the British Ministry at Jamaica.