In addition to colliers and tugs, the Spanish-American War Navy obtained several other types of auxiliaries to keep its warships functioning efficiently in the combat zones. Among them were USS Celtic, Glacier, Supply, Culgoa and Zafiro, which brought fresh provisions and other supplies from rear areas to the operating forces. The last two ships were used by Dewey's Asiatic Squadron, with Zafiro also serving as a collier. The others were in the Atlantic, along with the hospital ship Solace and repair ship Vulcan. Three ships, Niagara, Rainbow and Iris, were purchased for conversion to water distilling ships and Arethusa as a water tanker. However, of these, only Niagara was ready in time for active war service.

The post-war Navy retained all but Vulcan and Niagara, and most remained in service until the 1920s. About 1910, USS Arethusa became the U.S. Navy's first oil tanker, a early element in the introduction of a fuel that initially supplemented and then replaced coal as the motive force of seapower.