8 was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1916 by Murray and Tregurthe at Boston, Massachusetts.

8 from her owner, millionaire Harold Stirling Vanderbilt of New York City, on 10 May 1917 and commissioned her for service in World War I as USS Patrol No.

Coincidentally, at this same time, Vanderbilt, a Naval Reserve officer, was ordered to active duty and given command the Patrol No.

8 operated in the 2nd Naval District, headquartered at Newport, Rhode Island, and served throughout the United States' participation in World War I.

She was decommissioned postwar and returned to her owner on 18 February 1919.