From Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 1 (1959), pp. 120

Berkshire is a county in Massachusetts.

(AP: dp. 2300; l. 250'; b. 36'6"; dr. 20'; s. 12 k.; cpl. 86)

Berkshire (No. 1578), a passenger vessel, was built in 1881 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Co., Philadelphia, Pa.: chartered by the Shipping Board and delivered to the Navy 1 April 1918, and commissioned 24 April 1918, Lieutenant C. C. Jones, USNR, in command.

Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, Berkshire operated in Long Island Sound instructing personnel of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Navy in mine sweeping techniques and operations, until decommissioned and returned to her former owner 22 March 1919 at New York.

Berkshire (APR-2) was canceled 12 March 1943 before construction.