Sovereign was built as a civilian yacht of the same name in 1911 by Charles L. Seabury and Company at Morris Heights in the Bronx, New York, for private use as a pleasure and commuting vessel. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1917, Sovereign was registered with the U.S. Navy for potential service in time of war, and the Navy acquired her from the estate of M. C. D. Borden on 14 June 1918 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Sovereign (SP-170).