Albacore was built as a civilian motorboat of the same name in 1900 by Howard Brothers at San Diego, California. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, Bryant H. Howard of San Diego, in 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. Ordered to be delivered to the Navy on 21 June 1917, she was commissioned soon thereafter as USS Albacore (SP-751). The Navy returned Albacore to her owner on 19 March 1919.