USS Panther, a 4260-ton auxiliary cruiser, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1889 for commercial use. Purchased by the Navy in April 1898, she was quickly converted for Spanish-American War service. During that conflict, she served off Cuba and the U.S. Atlantic coast as a cruiser and as a transport. Decommissioned in 1899 and recommissioned in 1902, she then spent a year training naval militia and carrying Marines to Central America.

Panther returned to active service in 1907 as a repair ship and was tender to U.S. destroyers in European waters during World War I. She was designated AD-6 in 1920 and moved to the Asiatic Station the following year. Decommissioned for the last time in May 1922, Panther was sold in March 1923.