USS Pawnee (YT-21) was a yard tug in the United States Navy.

Pawnee was built in 1896 by Rodermund & Co. at Tomkins Cove, New York, as the steam lighter John Dwight.

The U.S. Navy purchased her on 6 May 1898 from George T. Moon and commissioned her the same day as USS Pawnee.

On 9 April 1910 she had a minor collision with the steamer Bloomsburg ( United States) off the New York Navy Yard, resulting in no damage to either vessel.

She was sold on 25 July 1922 to Seabury & DeZafra, Inc., of New York City.