The USS Ibis (SP-3051), also listed as USS Ibis (ID-3051), was a United States Navy minesweeper active during the final years of World War I. Originally built as a commercial fishing trawler named Sea Gull, she was constructed in 1917 by the Globe Shipbuilding Company in Superior, Wisconsin. The vessel was designed for fishing purposes, but her sturdy hull and versatile design made her suitable for naval adaptation. In June 1918, the U.S. Navy acquired Sea Gull from the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Company of New York City for wartime service. She was commissioned on August 19, 1918, as USS Ibis, with the designation SP-3051 (or ID-3051). As a minesweeper, she was assigned to the 1st Naval District, operating in northern New England. Her primary role was to assist in mine clearance operations, ensuring safe passage for Allied vessels along the American coast during the late stages of World War I. During her service, Ibis was involved in at least one notable incident. In mid-1918, she accidentally rammed the patrol vessel USS Satilla (SP-687) while Satilla was moored alongside the Hodge Boiler Works pier in Rockville, Maine. The collision caused significant damage to Satilla, including a buckled hull on the port side and leaks, leading to her being under repair for several months. After the conclusion of World War I, USS Ibis was decommissioned and returned to her owner on March 3, 1919. Her brief naval career exemplifies the U.S. Navy’s practice of requisitioning civilian vessels for wartime needs, particularly for minesweeping operations along the U.S. coast. Her service highlights the importance of converted commercial vessels in maintaining maritime safety during wartime.

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