Cero as a private motorboat sometime between 1915 and 1917.
History
United States
Name	USS Cero
Namesake	Previous name retained
Builder	Luders Marine Construction Company, Stamford, Connecticut
Completed	1915
Acquired	August 1917
Fate	Burned and sank 21 October 1918
Notes	Operated as private motorboat Cero 1915–1917
General characteristics
Type	Patrol vessel
Length	40 ft (12 m)

The first USS Cero (SP-1189) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1918.

Cero was built as a private motorboat of the same name in 1915 by the Luders Marine Construction Company at Stamford, Connecticut. In mid-July 1917, the U.S. Navy ordered her to be turned over to its control for use as a section patrol boat during World War I. Her owner, R. C. McCorkle of New York City, delivered her to the Navy in August 1917, and she was placed in service as USS Cero (SP-1189).

Assigned to the 2nd Naval District in southern New England, Cero served on patrol duties until 21 October 1918, when she was completely destroyed by a fire while in Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode Island, and sank 50 feet (15 meters) west of Bishop's Rock and about 500 yards (460 meters) west of Coasters Harbor Island. Her entire crew was rescued uninjured.

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Department of the Navy Naval History and Heritage Command Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: Cero (American Motor Boat, 1915). Served as USS Cero (SP-1189) in 1917–1918
• NavSource Online: Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive Cero (SP 1189)