USS Zenda

USS Zenda was a steel-hulled, screw-propelled yacht that served in the United States Navy during World War I. Originally built as a private luxury yacht, she was acquired by the Navy in 1917 and converted for patrol and escort duties.

Zenda was built in 1900 by Harlan and Hollingsworth Company of Wilmington, Delaware for Charles A. Gould. She was characterized by her elegant design and comfortable accommodations, reflecting her intended use for pleasure cruising.

Upon the United States' entry into World War I, the Navy recognized the need for additional vessels to combat the U-boat threat and perform coastal patrol. Zenda was purchased on 11 June 1917 and commissioned on 25 June 1917 with Lieutenant Commander Charles A. Lockwood in command.

During her naval service, Zenda was primarily involved in patrolling the coastal waters of the Eastern Seaboard. She also escorted convoys of merchant ships to protect them from submarine attacks. She was based primarily out of New York City.

Following the end of World War I, Zenda was decommissioned on 21 November 1919 and sold back into private ownership in 1920. Her subsequent fate is less well-documented, but she is believed to have continued in private service for a number of years. Zenda's service is representative of the many private vessels mobilized for wartime duties, highlighting the Navy's efforts to augment its fleet quickly during the global conflict.