"Having proved unsuit(able)"[1] for naval service, on 6 July 1918 the Navy directed that SP-913 be returned to her owner. She was returned to Lehmaier on 20 December 1918.
Josephine (SP-913) should not be confused with two other patrol vessels, USS Josephine (SP-1243) and USS Josephine (SP-3295), which also were in commission in the U.S. Navy during World War I.