The USS Mustang (SP-36) was an armed yacht built in 1911 by the National Boat and Electric Company in St. Joseph, Michigan. Constructed with a wooden hull and powered by gasoline, the vessel was originally a private yacht owned by Henry S. Beardsley of New York City. The U.S. Navy acquired her on 6 July 1917 amid the urgency of World War I, commissioning her as USS Mustang (SP-36) on 2 October 1917. Designed for patrol duties, Mustang served within the 3rd Naval District, operating primarily from Section Base No. 7 located at Whitestone on Long Island, New York. Her patrol area encompassed the western parts of Long Island Sound and the approaches to the East River, where she played a vital role in safeguarding maritime approaches and coastal waters during wartime. The vessel's service concluded shortly after the end of World War I, following the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918. Mustang was decommissioned and subsequently stricken from the Navy List in June 1919. Her naval career was relatively brief, spanning just over a year of active service. On 23 July 1919, she was sold to Allen N. Spooner & Son of New York City. The USS Mustang's service history highlights her role as a small, gasoline-powered patrol vessel that contributed to the U.S. Navy's coastal defense efforts during World War I. Her wooden hull and gasoline engine exemplify the typical design of private yachts repurposed for wartime patrol duties, reflecting the Navy’s reliance on converted civilian vessels during the conflict.

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