Nemes, a 50-foot motor boat, was built at Camden, New Jersey, in 1909. She was acquired by the Navy in July 1917 and placed in service as USS Nemes (SP-424). Sent south to Key West, Florida, for World War I patrol duty, Nemes had spent just over a month in Navy hands when, on 21 August 1917, she was accidently destroyed by an explosion and subsequent fire.