USS Pirate during World War I.
History
United States
Name	USS Pirate
Namesake	A pirate, a person who commits piracy, a war-like act committed by private parties, especially robbery or other acts of criminal violence on the sea (Previous name retained)
Builder	A. Craven Construction Company, Charleston, South Carolina
Completed	1916
Acquired	5 September 1917
Commissioned	5 September 1917
Fate	Returned to owner 26 December 1918
Notes	Operated as civilian motorboat Pirate 1916-1917 and from December 1918
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	42 ft 5 in (12.93 m)
Beam	11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draft	2 ft 11 in (0.89 m) mean
Complement	8
Armament	1 × 1-pounder gun 1 × machine gun

The first USS Pirate (SP-229) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

Pirate was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name in 1916 by the A. Craven Construction Company at Charleston, South Carolina. The U.S. Navy chartered her from her owner, A. Halsey, on 5 September 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned the same day as USS Pirate (SP-229).

Pirate patrolled along the United States East Coast for the remainder of World War I.

Pirate was returned to her owner on 26 December 1918.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy: Navy History and Heritage Command: Online Library of Selected Images: U.S. Navy Ships: USS Pirate (SP-229), 1917-1918. Originally civilian motor boat Pirate (1916)
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive: Pirate (SP 229)