 On 3 January 1925 Dobbin sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by way of Newport, Rhode Island, and Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she loaded equipment and supplies for her mission as tender to Destroyer Squadron 14 of the Scouting Fleet.She joined that squadron at Guantanamo Bay, and took part in gunnery practice with the destroyers.From this base, on 13 February 1925, Dobbin steamed to the Panama Canal and crossed to the Pacific Ocean.