USS Lykens (SP-876/AT-56) was a steam tugboat purchased from the Reading Company by the United States Navy in 1917.

On 17 September 1903, Lykens rescued the captain of tug Spartan which had sunk the previous night in a gale off Lewes, Delaware.

On 24 February 1918, Lykens, along with Wadena, Mariner and Yacona set sail from Newport, Rhode Island, rendezvousing with eleven 110-foot (34 m) submarine chasers en route.

On 30 April 1921 Lykens and Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet were dispatched to assist submarine O-10 that had grounded off Montauk Point in Block Island Sound.

Lykens and Acushnet were delayed by heavy fog and did not reach the stranded sub before the tide lifted it from its perch.

In early 1922, Lykens was ordered to tow three of the engineless subs from New London, Connecticut, to Philadelphia for decommissioning and scrapping.