After the
United States entered World War I in April 1917,
Noma was loaned to the Navy by Vincent Astor, who was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and served aboard her as a junior officer. The yacht was outfitted by the Navy with military equipment, including heavy guns, and commissioned as USS
Noma (SP–131) on 10 May 1917 and assigned to the North Atlantic. She was ordered to
France as the
flagship of Capt. William B. Fletcher, Commander U.S. Patrol Squadrons operating in
European waters. She sailed from
New York City 9 June 1917 accompanied by five other ships of her squadron:
Christabel,
Harvard,
Kanawha II,
Sultana, and
Vedette.
Anti-submarine duty Upon arriving at
Brest on 4 July 1917,
Noma immediately commenced operating in the
submarine danger zone, convoying troop transports and cargo vessels. While patrolling off
Cape Finisterre on 20 July 1917, she sighted a German
U-boat running awash and attacked it. On 25 July
Noma escorted a large American
convoy from
Belle Île to the
River Loire.
Noma next encountered a German submarine when she went to the aid of British
Q-ship on 8 August. At the time the vessel was being shelled and torpedoed by the enemy submarine.
Dunraven’s
commanding officer, Capt. Gordon Campbell, RN, credited
Noma’s arrival and prompt
depth charge attack with saving his ship.
Noma stood by
Dunraven until two British
destroyers arrived, and took off several wounded sailors.
Noma came upon a large German U-boat recharging her batteries on 16 August and engaged her in a vigorous gun duel until the U-boat submerged. On 17 September she next sighted a medium-sized German submarine watching for convoys close inshore, and in a dawn attack, straddled it with many
salvos. While escorting store ships
Koln and
Medina, westbound for France on 28 November,
Noma in company with
Wakiva II engaged two German submarines.
Noma depth charged her contact while
Wakiva II seriously damaged the other U-boat.
Noma and
Wakiva II were commended for distinguished service by both Rear Admiral
Henry B. Wilson and Admiral
William S. Sims. Lt. Comdr. Leahy was awarded the
Navy Cross for his role in the battle.
Noma continued to screen convoys in 1918, and escorted to
St. Nazaire on 25 January. She later accompanied a
convoy of 13 merchant ships westbound for the U.S. and returned on 21 May with a group of 8 ships bound for
La Pallice.
Noma's last combat with German submarines occurred 15 August when two ships of eastbound Convoy HB–8, and , were torpedoed;
Montanan sank, but
West Bridge was towed in to Brest.
Post-war operations After the war
Noma was temporarily stationed at
Plymouth, England until she was transferred to U.S. Forces based at
Constantinople in early 1919. She passed
Gibraltar on 26 January; stopped at
Taranto and
Malta; and arrived Constantinople on 13 February, bringing with her members of the American Relief Commission. Between February and May 1919 she supported the American Relief Commission during its operations in the
Black Sea. Once at Constantinople her duties involved carrying commission members to
Constanţa,
Romania 9–14 March; to
Varna,
Bulgaria 3–6 April, and to
Batum,
Russia 21 April–1 May.
Noma also removed American gold funds from Varna and took on board
U.S. Army personnel at all three ports.
Noma departed Constantinople for the U.S. on 21 May. She was decommissioned in mid-July 1919 and was returned to her pre-war condition and then returned to her owner at
New York City on 15 July 1919. == Later service as a yacht and salvage tug ==