USS Lanikai ( 1914 ) USS " Lanikai " , was a schooner - rigged diesel powered yacht commissioned into the United States Navy during both World War I and World War II , before being transferred to the Royal Australian Navy . The ship was built as MY " Hermes " by W . F . Stone of Oakland , California , in 1914 , for the Williams - Diamond Company , agents for the trading company " Jaluit - Gesellschaft " of Hamburg , Germany . Service history . World War I , 1917 – 1919 . The German vessel was in port at Honolulu when the United States entered World War I in April 1917 . Taken over by the Navy by Executive Order , she was commissioned at Honolulu as USS " Hermes " on 1 April 1918 , Lt . John T . Diggs in command . Originally intended as a submarine patrol vessel , " Hermes " performed this duty out of Honolulu during the summer of 1918 . On 31 August she sailed on a cruise among the islands northwest of Hawaii , including Laysan and Wake , to search for survivors of shipwrecks , signs of enemy activity , and to conduct a survey on wildlife and particularly birds for the Biological Survey Commission , Washington . After returning to Pearl Harbor on 2 October , she continued as a patrol craft . Inter - war activities , 1919 – 1941 . " Hermes " was ordered decommissioned on 16 January 1919 and placed at the disposal of the Hawaiian territorial government for use as a tender to leper colonies . When the territorial government decided they could not afford her upkeep , " Hermes " was turned over to the Pacific Air Detachment , whom she served as a store ship and general auxiliary craft . " Hermes " was sold on 21 October 1926 to the Lanikai Fish Company and renamed " Lanikai " , and sold again in 1929 to the Hawaiian Sea Products Company . Laid up in 1931 , the yacht was sold in 1933 to Northrup Castle of Honolulu , and sold in 1936 to Harry W . Crosby of Seattle , Washington . In 1937 she was sold to Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer studios for use in making the film " The Hurricane " , starring Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour . Following completion of the film she was used as the MGM yacht until sold on 6 April 1939 to E . M . Grimm of the Luzon Stevedoring Company of Manila , Philippines . World War II . Operations in the Philippines , 1941 – 1942 . " Lanikai " was taken into the United States Navy at Cavite Navy Yard , Philippine Islands , under charter from Luzon Stevedoring Co . , on 5 December 1941 , and commissioned the same day , Lt . Kemp Tolley in command . Late in November 1941 it became apparent to the American Government that Japanese forces were tactically deposed for major operations in Southeast Asia , but their precise target was unknown . A large convoy was steaming south from the Formosa Straits , and it was hoped that learning the destination of these ships might reveal Japan ' s intentions . On 2 December , President Roosevelt ordered , through Chief of Naval Operations , Admiral Harold R . Stark , that the Commander in Chief , Asiatic Fleet , Admiral Thomas C . Hart " charter three small vessels to form a defensive information patrol . . . to observe and report by radio Japanese movements in the west China Sea and Gulf of Siam . " " Lanikai " was one of the small ships chartered to learn of Japan ' s intentions . Fitted out at Cavite , with the greatest dispatch , the schooner lay at the entrance of Manila Bay in the early hours of 8 December ( 7 December east of the International Date Line ) awaiting daylight to thread her way through the dangerous minefields which guarded the harbor . Tolley ' s orders read : " Patrol off the entrance of Cam Ranh Bay and report the direction taken by the Japanese Fleet when it emerges . " However , at 0300 word of Japan ' s attack on Pearl Harbor arrived with orders to return to Manila . In ensuing weeks , the schooner patrolled the approaches to Manila Bay and served as dispatch vessel within the harbor . On 10 December she survived the devastating Japanese air raid which destroyed Cavite Navy Yard . On Christmas Day , she assisted in the evacuation of Manila , carrying Army Officers and equipment to Corregidor . Escape to Australia , 1941 – 1942 . As a result of plans and actions of Lt . Comdr . Charles Adair , Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Hart , approval was obtained for " Lanikai " to attempt to escape to the Netherlands East Indies . On the evening of 26 December , carrying as passengers one Dutch and three American officers , " Lanikai " , with her Filipino crew , got underway from Mariveles harbor , Luzon , " destination unknown " . Heading generally south , hiding in friendly coves during daylight , and traveling principally at night , the schooner sailed from island to island as Japanese forces spread across the East Indies with explosive speed . Storms covered her as she crossed the three large stretches of open water which lay between Luzon and Australia , and offered no coves for daylight concealment . When , as happened all too often , enemy aircraft approached the lightly armed schooner , they were preoccupied for the most part , with bigger game ; but , at Surabaya , Java , on 3 February 1942 , three Japanese bombs straddled the schooner so close aboard that " Lanikai " crewmen put off in a skiff to pick up a large quantity of stunned fish . In late February , under full sail despite heavy seas , " Lanikai " headed due south from Tjilatjap , Java . This course was taken to avoid enemy forces which might be searching the direct route from Java to Darwin , Australia . On 1 March , while about 200 miles east of Christmas Island , a large Japanese task force was sighted on the port bow . Evasive action by " Lanikai " was successful . On 18 March , 82 days after departing Mariveles , the schooner arrived at Fremantle , Western Australia . Service in Australia , 1942 – 1945 . After replenishment and repairs , she got underway , on 4 April , to cruise along the northwest Australian coast and search for possible Japanese coast watchers . Lt . Comdr . Adair relieved Lt Comdr . Tolley of command of the vessel on 27 April and continued the search into mid - May . " Lanikai " was decommissioned at Fremantle on 22 August , and was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in which she served on harbor defense throughout the war . Fate , 1945 – 1947 . At the end of the war , " Lanikai " was sent back to the Philippines , and returned to her previous owner at Manila in 1946 , but the owner refused to accept her in such poor condition . While undergoing repair at Subic Bay , the US Naval Base North of Manila , " Lanikai " sank during a typhoon in 1947 . In 2003 the wreck of the vessel was found in Nabasan Bay , and artifacts later salvaged . Awards . " Lanikai " received one battle star for World War II service .