 On 27 April 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owners, the H. & N.Y. Transportation Company of New York City, for naval use during World War I.She was commissioned as USS "Spartan" (SP-336) on 22 September 1917.Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, "Spartan" spent the next two years on minesweeping duty in the New York City area.