Tug Mariner photographed prior to 1917, while still in civilian service.
History
United States
Name	USS Mariner
Completed	1906
Acquired	1 February 1918
Commissioned	1 February 1918
Fate	Returned to her owner, 13 January 1919
General characteristics
Type	Tugboat
Displacement	234 long tons (238 t)
Length	113 ft (34 m)
Beam	25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Draft	7 ft (2.1 m)
Propulsion	steam engine
Speed	12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement	23
Armament	2 × 1-pounder guns

USS Mariner 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.

Service history

The second ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Mariner, a 234 long tons (238 t) 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. She was employed by the Panama Canal Commission during the construction of the Panama Canal and after its completion. Mariner patrolled the approaches to the canal and provided tug and towing services during the remainder of World War I. She was returned to her owner 13 January 1919 and resumed her civilian work. Her name was struck from the Navy list. Mariner's ultimate fate is unknown.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Tug Mariner (1906-19??); USS Mariner (1918-1919).