 On 11 June 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her under a free lease from her owner for use as a section patrol vessel during World War I.She was commissioned the same day as USS "Enaj" (SP-578) with Ensign L. F. Herreshoff, USNRF, in command.Assigned to the 2nd Naval District in southern New England, "Enaj" carried out patrols and executed special duty assignments with the Inspection Section at Newport, Rhode Island, for the rest of World War I.