USS Mayflower (1897) was a lighthouse tender

Lighthouse tender

A lighthouse tender is a ship specifically designed to maintain, support, or tend to lighthouses, or lightvessels, providing supplies, fuel, mail and transportation....

 loaned to the U.S. Navy to patrol the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

 coast during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. When the war ended, she was returned to the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

Commissioned in 1917

The third Mayflower, a lighthouse tender built in 1897, was transferred to the Navy after the U.S. entered World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

and commissioned 10 May 1917.

Post-war disposition

When the war ended, Mayflower was returned to the Lighthouse Service by Executive order 1 July 1919.