Bushnell was launched 9 February 1915 by Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company, Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Miss Esculine Warwick Bushnell great-grandniece of David Bushnell; and commissioned 24 November 1915, Lieutenant D. F. Boyd in command. In September 1920 she assisted in salvage operations on the submarine USS S-5 (SS-110) sunk off the Delaware Capes. In December 1937 she was transferred to duty with the Hydrographic survey and carried out her operations on the coasts of Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, British Guiana, and Samoa until September 1941.