6 was built as the private motorboat Bonita in 1916 by George Lawley and Son at Neponset, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Navy purchased Bonita from Herman Oelrichs of Newport, Rhode Island on 16 June 1917 and commissioned her for service in World War I as USS Patrol No.

6 operated in the 2nd Naval District, headquartered at Newport, on patrol throughout the United States' participation in World War I.

She was decommissioned postwar and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 7 November 1919.

She was sold to George A. Crowley of New York City on 19 March 1921.