The USS Investigator was a ship that served the United States Navy during World War I. It was originally known as the SS War Topaz and was built in 1918 as a cargo ship for the United States Shipping Board. The ship was acquired by the Navy in 1918 and commissioned as the USS Investigator. It served as a minelayer and patrol vessel during the war, tasked with laying mines to protect American ports and harbors. After the war, the USS Investigator was decommissioned in 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. It was eventually sold to private owners in 1921 and resumed its original role as a cargo ship under the name SS War Topaz. The ship had a relatively short service life in the Navy but played a vital role in protecting American waters during the conflict. Overall, the USS Investigator was a significant vessel in the U.S. Navy's fleet during World War I, serving as a minelayer and patrol vessel to safeguard American ports. Its service history highlights the important role that ships played in naval operations during the war and the versatility of vessels like the USS Investigator in fulfilling various wartime duties.

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