 Commandeered by the Italian government, "Vulcania"s wartime service began with special trooping duties during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935.From 18 February, she made eight voyages Naples – Massawa – Mogadishu carrying troops and colonists.On 12 May, she was given new engines and renovated at the shipyard in Monfalcone to soon resume her transatlantic sailings until Italy entered World War II on 10 June 1940.