USS I.J. Merritt, a 174-foot long salvage ship was originally the civilian ship of the same name. Taken over by the Navy in June 1918, while still under construction at Staten Island, New York, she was launched in February 1919 and delivered in August 1919. The following December, after brief Naval service, I.J. Merritt was sold back to her original owners, the Merritt and Chapman company.