In September 1939, "Moreno" and "Rivadavia" traveled together to Brazil with naval cadets. However, before they could return, four s had to be sent to escort the ships back, as the Second World War had erupted in Europe. Since Argentina remained neutral in the war, "Moreno" saw little active service. By 1949, the venerable dreadnought had been decommissioned into reserve and was used as a barracks. In 1955, "Moreno" was used as a prison ship during the Liberating Revolution ("Revolución Libertadora"). The ship was stricken from the navy list on 1 October 1956; on 11 January 1957, Argentina sold "Moreno" for scrap for $2,468,660 to the Japanese Yawata Iron and Steel Company. On 12 May, the Argentine fleet assembled to salute the battleship one last time as it was towed out by the Dutch-owned ocean tugs "Clyde" and "Ocean". "Moreno" was taken through the Panama Canal to the scrappers, arriving on 17 August.