Ortolan was laid down 9 July 1918 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Company, New York City, United States; launched 30 January 1919; sponsored by Miss Theresa M. Finn; and commissioned 17 September 1919.

[2][3] During September she assisted in the salvage of the seven destroyers wrecked in the Honda Point Disaster, earlier in the month, then resumed tender operations out of San Pedro, Los Angeles.

In September she resumed her west coast tender activities and for another two years ranged the eastern Pacific as submarines conducted training exercises.

[4] On 10 December 1941, Ortolan sailed west again and on the 21st arrived at Pearl Harbor to assist in the staggering salvage job which was the aftermath of the Japanese attack two weeks earlier.

On 18 July 1942, she reported for a year's tour with Pearl Harbor based submarines, recovering torpedoes and assisting in preparations for war patrols.

The cruisers sailed 12 days later and Ortolan commenced a busy two months during which she assisted vessels, PT boats to destroyers and transports, surveyed sunken Japanese and recovered downed "Zeros" for intelligence evaluation.

Although frequently interrupted for other, more pressing, salvage or repair jobs, Ortolan raised the "midget" and towed her to Kukum Bay in May, and, in June delivered her to Nouméa.

At the end of April she reported for duty with the Western Sea Frontier and for the ensuing 18 months operated as escort and torpedo recovery vessel for submarines conducting exercises off California.