The first USS Willoughby (SP-2129)The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships gives her designation as "SP-2129", while the Naval Historical Center gives it as both "SP-2129" and "ID-2129" (or "Id. No. 2129"). The ship was used as a patrol vessel, indicating that SP-2129 was her designation, "SP" standing for "section patrol"; the "ID" or "Id. No." designations were used for ships in service as cargo ships, tankers, and transports, activities in which the ship was not involved, indicating that "ID-2129" or "Id. No. 2129" is incorrect was a patrol vessel that served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1919.
Willoughby was built as the wooden-hulled ferry steamer SS Augustus J. Phillips in 1903 at South Rondout, New York. Her name had been changed to SS Willoughby by the time she was chartered by the U.S. Navy from the Chesapeake Ferry Company of Portsmouth, Virginia, for local district patrol duties during World War I. She was assigned the Navy classification SP-2129 and commissioned as USS Willoughby on 8 February 1918.
Willoughby operated in the 5th Naval District for the duration of World War I and ultimately was decommissioned and returned to her pre-war owners on 26 September 1919.
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