USS Surf (SP-518) was a civilian steam yacht built in 1898 by Ramage & Ferguson in Leith, Scotland, for E. D. Lambert of Berkshire, England. The vessel was subsequently owned by American millionaire shoe manufacturer John H. Hanan, who used her for cruising in 1916. In 1917, she was sold to John Alton Harriss, a New York businessman and former physician. Harriss offered the Surf to the U.S. Navy for patrol duties during World War I, specifically for use as a patrol vessel, and also loaned her to the American Red Cross for medical purposes. Constructed as a luxury steam yacht, the Surf was capable of accommodating up to 25 patients when serving as an ambulance ship. Harriss financed her conversion to Red Cross service, including painting her in Red Cross livery and covering the costs of maintenance, medical staff salaries, and medical supplies. He also served as the Medical Director aboard the vessel during this period. In May 1917, the vessel was loaned to the Navy and the Red Cross, but she was never commissioned into active naval service. The Navy assigned her the section patrol number SP-518 but ultimately decided against her acceptance due to the submarine threat, and she was returned to Harriss on September 29, 1917. Following her brief role as an ambulance ship, the Surf was repurposed starting July 30, 1918, as a recreational and medical transport vessel along the Hudson River. She was employed to carry up to 120 Army patients from the United States General Hospital No. 1, performing three trips weekly. During these trips, the vessel also provided musical entertainment, serving a dual role as a recreation and medical transport vessel during the latter part of World War I. Overall, USS Surf exemplifies a civilian vessel adapted for wartime auxiliary service, highlighting the flexibility of private yachts and their potential roles in maritime and medical support during periods of 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.