The USS Adelante (SP-765) was originally built as the iron-hulled, single-screw steam yacht Utowana in 1883 by the Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engineering Works in Chester, Pennsylvania. The vessel measured approximately 138 feet in length overall, with a beam of about 20 feet 7 inches and a draft of around 8 feet 6 inches to 9 feet 6 inches, depending on the source. She displaced 141 gross registered tons and 71 net tons, with a waterline length of 121 feet. Powered by two boilers and a vertical compound engine producing 420 indicated horsepower, the yacht could reach speeds up to 12 knots, with an endurance of roughly 1,850 nautical miles. Initially owned by Washington Everett Connor, Utowana participated in yacht races and was notable for her involvement in social and sporting activities in the 1880s. In 1885, she was briefly considered for military service by the Colombian government but remained with her original owner. In 1887, she was purchased by Elias Cornelius Benedict and renamed Oneida. Under Benedict’s ownership, she became a prominent social vessel and was involved in a historic secret operation on July 1, 1893, when President Grover Cleveland underwent a covert surgical procedure for cancer aboard the yacht while cruising in Long Island Sound. In 1913, Benedict replaced the original yacht with a larger vessel, also named Oneida, and sold the older ship, which was renamed Adelante. Converted into a tow boat, the vessel’s appearance was significantly altered, with a deckhouse and superstructure typical of early 20th-century tugs. During World War I, the U.S. Navy acquired her in August 1918, commissioning her as USS Adelante (SP-765). She served briefly in the 1st Naval District, primarily establishing radio compass stations along the Maine coast and acting as a boarding vessel in Boston harbor. After decommissioning in August 1919 and sale in March 1920, she became a commercial tow boat under the names John Gully and Salvager. Her service life ended when she was abandoned in 1941, marking the end of her maritime career.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.