USS Kanawha (SP-169) was a patrol vessel purchased by the United States Navy in 1917 which never saw active service. The U.S. Navy purchased USS Kanawha from H. C. Baxter of Brunswick, Maine, on 27 April 1917 for use as a patrol vessel during World War I. She was designated SP-169, but was found defective during fitting out and was returned to her owner. She should not be confused with the replenishment oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1) or the armed yacht USS Kanawha II (SP-130), both of which were in U.S. Navy service at or around the same time.