▁declaration ▁of ▁war ▁on ▁Germany ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁Boston ▁was ▁loan ed ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Sh ipping ▁Board ▁from ▁ 2 4 ▁May ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁– ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁Boston ▁was ▁converted ▁to ▁a ▁fre ighter ▁by ▁Seattle ▁Const ruction ▁& ▁D ry d ock ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 7 – 1 9 1 8 . ▁Her ▁guns ▁were ▁most ▁likely ▁removed ▁when ▁she ▁was ▁laid ▁up ▁at ▁B rem erton ▁between ▁September ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁and ▁March ▁ 1 9 1 7 . ▁On ▁ 1 8 ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 8 , ▁she ▁was ▁recomm ission ed ▁at ▁Mare ▁Island ▁Navy ▁Y ard ▁as ▁a ▁receiving ▁ship ▁and ▁to wed ▁to ▁Y er ba ▁Bu ena ▁Island , ▁California , ▁where ▁she ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁receiving ▁ship ▁until ▁ 1 9 4 0 . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁She ▁was ▁renamed ▁Des patch , ▁the ▁sixth ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁ship ▁to ▁bear ▁that ▁name , ▁on ▁ 9 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁thus ▁free ing ▁her ▁original ▁name ▁for ▁use ▁on ▁the ▁new ▁heavy ▁cru iser ▁. ▁ ▁From ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁to ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁she ▁was ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁radio ▁school . ▁The ▁old ▁ship ▁was ▁red es ign ated ▁IX - 2 ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁ ▁Des patch ▁was ▁to wed ▁to