USS Mariner (1906)

USS Mariner (1906) was a commercial tugboat operating in the Panama Canal area. When World War I broke out, she was commissioned and armed by the United States Navy, and spent the rest of the war protecting vessels in the vicinity of the canal from German submarines.

A tug built in Camden, New Jersey
The second ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Mariner, a 234 LT steam tug, was built at Camden, New Jersey, in 1906. Following America’s entry into World War I, she was taken over by the Navy and commissioned 1 February 1918, Lt. (jg.) W. C. Coalfleet, USNRF, in command. She was employed by the Panama Canal Commission during the construction of the Panama Canal and after its completion. Assigned to the Panama Canal Zone,

World War I service
Taken over by the U.S. Navy in early 1918, she was commissioned as USS Mariner (with no identification number) in February to serve in the Panama Canal Zone area on patrol and tug duties. Mariner patrolled the approaches to the canal and provided tug and towing services during the remainder of World War I.

Post-war decommissioning
She was returned to her owner 13 January 1919 and resumed her civilian work. Her name was struck from the Navy list.