USS Mariner ( SP - 1136 ) USS " Mariner " ( SP - 1136 ) was a wooden - hulled tugboat for the United States Navy in World War I . She had previously been the " Jack T . Scully " of the Neptune Line of New York before her acquisition by the Navy . She foundered and sank in a gale on 26 February 1918 while part of a convoy steaming to Bermuda . History . " Mariner " , formerly the steam tug " Jack T . Scully " of the Neptune Line , New York City , was built in 1899 by A . C . Brown , Tottenville , Staten Island , New York and had previously steamed between New York and Bangor , Maine . Considered “ strongly built ” and a “ good sea boat ” for potential employment as a minesweeper , " Mariner " was delivered to the Navy on 25 September 1917 . Earmarked “ for distant service ” on 1 October 1917 and given the designation SP - 1136 , she was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard , Brooklyn , New York , on 19 December 1917 , Lt . ( jg . ) Martin Miller , USNRF in command . The Navy spent $ 3 , 000 refitting the tug for naval service . Initially , " Mariner " performed routine duty at the New York Navy Yard and in the waters of New York harbor . Following that period of local work , she got underway on 6 February 1918 in company with converted yachts and , bound for New London , Connecticut . The little convoy proceeded uneventfully until increasingly heavy ice floe s began to impede their progress . " Mariner " took " Wadena " in tow , getting her through one congested area and then dropping the tow when clear . When " Wadena " again ran into difficulty , " Mariner " took the yacht in tow , until forced to stop ( " Yacona " then took " Wadena " in tow for a time ) when the ice in Long Island Sound smashed in some of her timbers , compelling Lt . ( jg ) Miller to order the tug beached at New London to facilitate repairs . Once again seaworthy , " Mariner " steamed up Narragansett Bay to the coaling station at Melville , Rhode Island , where she helped " Yacona " get underway for Newport during the afternoon watch on 23 February , then proceeded to assist the section patrol boat that had suffered a fire at Melville later that same day . " Mariner " then shifted to Newport . " Mariner " got underway for Bermuda on 24 February 1918 in company with " Yacona " and " Wadena " , the tug , eleven submarine chaser s , and the French tug " Mohican " . As the convoy worked its way down the eastern seaboard , however , " Mariner " fell farther behind . She briefly towed the submarine chaser before the tug herself began to founder in the heavy southwesterly gale that sprang up on 26 February . Her seams opened to the sea by the pounding of the waves , her pumps failed ; rising water doused the fires under her boilers and rendered her helpless . Consequently , " Mariner " hoisted the breakdown flag shortly before noon and cast loose " SC - 177 " . Shortly thereafter , the crew of " Mariner " signaled that they were sinking fast . " Wadena " stood by to render assistance , in rough and high seas . After embarking two groups of " Mariner " ’ s crew from life rafts , " Wadena " sprayed oil on the water to calm the seas , and then brought on board the rest of the tug ' s complement from three more rafts . The last group — which included Lt . ( jg . ) Miller , " Mariner " ’ s commanding officer — had abandoned the tug with its decks awash , and reached " Wadena " ’ s side at around 17 : 30 . Abandoned , " Mariner " sank sometime after 21 : 45 that day at approximately . While the rest of the convoy continued on its passage , " Wadena " retrieved " SC - 177 " and ultimately reached the British naval station at Hamilton , Bermuda , on 1 March 1918 . " Mariner " was stricken from the Navy Register on 8 March 1918 .