At the outbreak of the First World War, "Wolverine" was still in the Mediterranean, as a member of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla. The flotilla, including "Wolverine", was involved in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser . "Wolverine" was one of eight destroyers deployed by Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge to assist his squadron of Armoured cruisers in stopping the German ships escaping to Austrian waters. When it was realised that "Goeben" and "Breslau" were not heading to Austria, Troubridge left these destroyers behind as they did not have sufficient coal left for a high speed pursuit, and set off southwards on the night of 6/7 August 1914 with his four Armoured cruisers. He called off his pursuit later that night because he could not intercept the German squadron until daylight, when "Goeben"s superior speed and armament would give the Germans a significant advantage. On 1 November 1914 she and the destroyer sank a Turkish armed yacht, believed to be involved in minelaying operations, in the Gulf of Smyrna.