The USS Favorite (SP-1385/ID-1385/IX-45) was a substantial tugboat built in 1907 in Buffalo, New York, with a gross register tonnage of 1,223 GRT. Originally owned by the Great Lakes Towing and Wrecking Company, she played a notable role in early salvage operations, including assisting in the salvage of the SS Eastland in 1915 and participating in a salvage attempt for the wreck of the SS Charles S. Price in 1916. Acquired by the U.S. Navy in January 1918 and commissioned the following month, the Favorite initially performed icebreaking duties off the coast of Maine. By March 1918, she was refitted for overseas service as a salvage and wrecking vessel, arriving at Brest, France, in August 1918. Her mission included searching for sunken ships and lost material, as well as salvaging grounded vessels such as the USS Narragansett, which ran aground on 31 January 1919 off the Isle of Wight. Her efforts in salvage operations earned her commanding officer, Lieutenant Nathan E. Cook, a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy. Following the conclusion of World War I, Favorite continued her salvage work at Brest and in England until her departure for the United States in June 1919. She was decommissioned in April 1920 at New York City, converted into a seagoing tug, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. Despite her transfer, she remained Navy property and was designated as an unclassified district craft, with her filing symbols evolving over time, ultimately being reclassified as IX-45 in 1941. Favorite resumed service during World War II, operating in the Panama Canal area, where she was assigned to the Panama Canal Mechanical Division. She was last returned to Navy custody in January 1948, stricken from the Navy List in February 1948, and sold in March of that year. She subsequently served as the Peruvian Navy’s submarine salvage ship Guardian Rios (later Rios) until her removal from the Peruvian Navy list in July 1958. Her long service life highlights her versatility and maritime significance as a salvage and tug vessel through both World Wars and beyond.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.