After almost 7 years of peacetime service with active and reserve destroyer squadrons, Perkins recommissioned 3 April 1917, Lt. Frank M. Knox in command. Assigned to the second division of United States destroyer forces in Europe with Paulding, Wilkes, and Ammen, she operated out of Queenstown, Ireland, from June into November 1917. During this duty, she rescued survivors of Tarquah on 7 August, and escorted SS Bohemia from Saint Nazaire to Ireland and SS New York from Queenstown to Liverpool. In November 1917 she departed Ireland for New York.
During the winter of 1917–1918, she underwent overhaul at Charleston, South Carolina. From March to December 1918 she operated out of Gravesend Bay, New York on anti-submarine patrol and escort duty. She sighted German submarine U-151 off New Jersey 2 June 1918. On convoy duty she escorted various ships, including President Grant and President Washington, between Halifax, Nova Scotia and New York.
Entering the Reserve Fleet on 5 December 1919, Perkins remained there until she was struck from the Navyon List 8 March 1935, sold 28 June, and scrapped.
Source: Naval History & Heritage Command including Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
