The USS Rondo (SP-90), later known as USS SP-90, was an armed motorboat constructed in 1915 by the Rhode River Shipbuilding Company in Maryland. Designed as a civilian vessel, she was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 16 May 1917 for World War I patrol duties. She was officially commissioned into service on 14 November 1917. The vessel was primarily employed as a patrol craft, operating along Florida waters with bases at Key West, Marathon, Long Key, and Bahia Honda Viaduct at Bahia Honda Key. The ship's designation was changed in April 1918 to USS SP-90, likely to prevent confusion with a similarly named cargo ship, USS Rondo (ID-2488). As a patrol vessel, SP-90 played a role in safeguarding maritime interests during wartime, patrolling key areas in the Florida Keys and surrounding regions. She contributed to the naval efforts by monitoring and securing these waters against potential threats. In her service history, the USS SP-90 met a tragic end when she was destroyed in a hurricane while anchored in North Beach Basin at Key West on 9 September 1919. She was one of eight patrol boats destroyed by the storm, with all wreckage subsequently burned or repurposed into stores. Following the destruction, she was officially stricken from the Navy List on 4 October 1919. The USS Rondo (SP-90) exemplifies the modest but vital role played by small patrol vessels in World War I, providing local maritime security and patrol services in the waters of Florida. Her destruction in a natural disaster underscores the vulnerabilities faced by naval assets even after their military service.

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