She was laid down at the Boothbay, Maine shipyard of the Rice Brothers Corporation, one of 203 "Six-Bitters" ordered by the United States Coast Guard.

[1][2] She was designed for long-range picket and patrol duty during Prohibition for postings 20 to 30 miles from shore.

[3] 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 18 April 1934, she was transferred to the United States Navy and designated as a Yard Patrol Craft (YP).

[2] During World War II she was assigned to the Inshore Patrol of the Gulf Sea Frontier, 8th Naval District based at Key West, Florida and later Miami from 17 June 1942.