Lapwing was laid down 25 October 1917 by Todd Shipyard Co., New York; launched 14 March 1918; sponsored by Miss Agnes Forshew Schlegel; and commissioned 12 June 1918.

Sailing for Pearl Harbor in January 1921, Lapwing engaged in minesweeping operations in Hawaiian waters until she decommissioned 11 April 1922.

From 1933 to 1941, Lapwing participated in various exercises with aircraft, helping develop American naval aviation capability for its decisive role in future wars.

Based at Trinidad, British West Indies, upon the outbreak of World War II, Lapwing was assigned to the North Atlantic.

After a cruise to Recife, Brazil (May–August 1944), as a task force support unit, the seaplane tender returned Key West on 4 September and operated there for the rest of the war.