She was laid down at the Annapolis, Maryland shipyard of Chance Marine Construction Company, one of 203 "Six-Bitters" ordered by the United States Coast Guard.

[3][2] She was designed for long-range picket and patrol duty during Prohibition for postings 20 to 30 miles from shore.

[4] The date of her launching and completion is uncertain although the class design was finalized in April 1924 and all of the Six-Bitters were commissioned by 1925.

[2] On 1 January 1934, she was transferred to the United States Navy and designated as a Yard Patrol Craft (YP) and assigned to the 3rd Naval District at New York City where she trained reservists.

[2] In late 1940, she was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone, Fifteenth Naval District.