The USS Galatea (SP-714) was a yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy for use during World War I. Originally built in 1908 as a private vessel, the ship was commissioned into the Navy in May 1917 and served as a patrol craft along the U.S. East Coast. Equipped with guns for defense, the USS Galatea conducted anti-submarine patrols and escorted convoys during the war. After the war ended, the ship was decommissioned in December 1918 and returned to its original owner. Despite being briefly reacquired by the Navy in 1942 for use as a patrol vessel during World War II, the USS Galatea was eventually returned to civilian service. The ship was ultimately sold for scrap in 1953. The USS Galatea's service history provides insight into the Navy's use of civilian vessels during times of conflict and highlights the adaptability of ships for various wartime roles.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.