USS Noma ( SP - 131 ) USS " Noma " ( SP - 131 ) was a yacht loaned to the U . S . Navy during World War I by Vincent Astor of New York City . " Noma " was outfitted by the Navy with military equipment , including heavy guns , and commissioned as a patrol craft assigned to protect shipping from German submarine s . At war ’ s end she performed various services for the American Relief Commission in Constantinople and in the Black Sea before returning to the U . S . for decommissioning and return to her owner . Built in New York . " Noma " ( SP – 131 ) a steam yacht , was built in 1902 by the Burlee Dry Dock Co . , Staten Island , New York ; was acquired by the Navy from Vincent Astor ; commissioned 10 May 1917 , Lt . Comdr . Lamar Richard Leahy in command . World War I service . Assigned to the North Atlantic . At the outbreak of World War I " Noma " was ordered to France as the flagship of Capt . William B . Fletcher , Commander U . S . Patrol Squadrons operating in European waters . She sailed from New York City 9 June 1917 accompanied by five other ships of her squadron : " Christabel " , " Harvard " , " Kanawha II " , " Sultana " , and " Vedette " . Anti - submarine duty . Upon arriving at Brest 4 July , " Noma " immediately commenced operating in the submarine danger zone , convoying troop transports and cargo vessels . While patrolling off Cape Finisterre 20 July , she sighted a German U - boat running awash and boldly attacked it . On 25 July " Noma " escorted a large American convoy from Belle Île to the Loire . " Noma " next encountered a German submarine when she went to the aid of British “ Q - Ship ” " Dunraven " 8 August . At the time the vessel was being shelled and torpedoed by the enemy submarine . " Dunraven ’ s " commanding officer , Capt . Gordon Campbell , RN , credited " Noma ’ s " arrival and prompt depth charge attack with saving his ship . " Noma " stood by " Dunraven " until two British destroyer s arrived , and she took off several wounded sailors . " Noma " came upon a large German U - boat recharging her batteries 16 August and engaged her in a vigorous gun duel until the U - boat submerged . She next sighted a medium - sized German submarine watching for convoys close in shore 17 September , and in a dawn attack , straddled it with many salvo s . Awarded the Navy Cross . While escorting store ships " Koln " and " Medina " , westbound for France 28 November , " Noma " in company with " Wakiva II " engaged two German submarines . " Noma " tenaciously depth charged her contact while " Wakiva II " seriously damaged the other U - boat . " Noma " and " Wakiva II " were commended for distinguished service by both Rear Admiral Henry B . Wilson and Admiral William S . Sims . Lt . Comdr . Leahy was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in the battle . " Noma " continued to screen convoys in 1918 , and escorted to St . Nazaire 25 January . She later accompanied a convoy of 13 merchant ships westbound for the U . S . and returned 21 May with a group of 8 ships bound for La Pallice . " Noma " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s last combat with German submarines occurred 15 August when two ships of eastbound Convoy HB – 8 , and , were torpedoed ; " Montanan " sank , but " West Bridge " was towed in to Brest . End - of - war operations . After the war " Noma " was temporarily stationed at Plymouth , England until she was transferred to U . S . Forces based at Constantinople in early 1919 . She passed Gibraltar 26 January ; stopped at Taranto and Malta ; and arrived Constantinople 13 February , bringing with her members of the American Relief Commission . Between February and May 1919 she supported the American Relief Commission during its operations in the Black Sea . Once at Constantinople her duties involved carrying commission members to Constanţa , Romania 9 – 14 March ; to Varna , Bulgaria 3 – 6 April , and to Batum , Russia 21 April – 1 May . " Noma " also removed American gold funds from Varna and took on board U . S . Army personnel at all three ports . Post - war decommissioning . " Noma " departed Constantinople for the U . S . 21 May . She was decommissioned in mid - July 1919 and was returned to her pre - war condition and then returned to her owner at New York City 15 July 1919 .