USS Venture, a 80-foot section patrol vessel, was built in 1907 at South Boston, Massachusetts, as the motor pleasure boat Shadow. Later renamed Venture, she was leased to the Navy in April 1917 and placed in commission at that time. For the remainder of World War I, and for a few months afterwards, she operated on patrol and dispatch duties in the vicinity of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. USS Venture was decommissioned in early February 1919 and returned to her owner.