USS Caliph (SP-272) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission in 1917 and again in 1918. Caliph is derived from the word al-khalifah, Arabic word for the leader. Caliph was built as a civilian motorboat in 1910 by the Matthews Yacht Building Company. The U.S. Navy leased her in May 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned as USS Caliph (SP-272). Caliph was recommissioned on 1 April 1918 and assigned to duty with the District Communication Superintendent at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. She resumed her patrol duties.