A marine fish of: the herring family which, as the most abundant of fishes along the Atlantic coast, is found from New England waters southward; the fish is caught for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer. SP-847 retained her former name.

Menhaden (SP-847), a coal burning tug, was built by C. W. Crockett, Pocomoke City, Md., in 1905, chartered by the Navy from E Bellsoll Dennis of Cape Charles, Va., in May 1917; and commissioned 21 May 1917 at Norfolk, Ens. Edwin T. George, USNRF, in command.

Assigned to the 5th Naval District, Menhaden operated out of Norfolk during World War I. She provided tug and towing services and carried out harbor patrols in Hampton Roads. In addition she supported the activities of district minesweepers. After the Armistice, she decommissioned and was returned to her owner 12 March 1919.