USS Roanoke, a 7620-ton minelayer, was built in 1901 as the merchant passenger-cargo ship El Dia. Taken over by the Navy in November 1917, she was converted to a minelayer at Hoboken, New Jersey. The ship was commissioned as USS Roanoke in January 1918 and spent the next few months in shakedown and training. In April 1918, she loaded passengers and a cargo of mines at Norfolk, Virginia, for employment in European waters.

Roanoke arrived at Base 17, Invergordon, Scotland, in May 1918. She was soon at work helping to plant the vast North Sea Mine Barrage, intended to hamper the operations of German submarines, and remained on that duty until World War I ended in November 1918. After return to the United States in early 1919, Roanoke was modified for transport purposes. She subsequently made four voyages between the U.S. and France as part of the effort to bring home troops from the former war zone. USS Roanoke decommissioned in August 1919 and was returned to her owners.