The USS Willoughby (AGP-9) was a motor torpedo boat tender constructed during World War II, originally laid down as a Barnegat-class small seaplane tender (AVP-57) on 15 March 1943 at Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Washington. She was reclassified as a motor torpedo boat tender (AGP-9) on 11 May 1943 and launched on 21 August 1943, sponsored by Mrs. D. R. Lee. Commissioned on 18 June 1944, Willoughby underwent sea trials and shakedown exercises out of San Diego, California, where she practiced antisubmarine warfare, antiaircraft, and gunnery drills. During her service in the Pacific Theater, Willoughby supported PT boat operations across various locations including Mios Woendi, Leyte Gulf, and Palawan. She was instrumental in tending to patrol torpedo boats during key engagements such as the Battle of Surigao Strait, where her fleet played a crucial role in providing warning and support for the larger fleet actions. Willoughby participated in the largest and longest mass movement of PT boats under their own power, traveling over 1,200 nautical miles from New Guinea to the Philippines, fueling at sea from her tender and accompanying oilers. Throughout her wartime service, Willoughby was involved in numerous combat operations, including anti-aircraft actions, air raids, and support during amphibious landings. She also towed damaged vessels like the USS Gansevoort and provided vital logistical support during the island-hopping campaigns of the Pacific. Her service earned her three battle stars. After the war, in 1946, she was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard, where she was converted into a weather-reporting vessel and renamed USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387). Her Coast Guard career spanned from 1947 to 1973, during which she served on weather stations, participated in rescue operations, law enforcement, and patrols, including service during the Vietnam War. Reclassified as a high endurance cutter (WHEC-387) in 1966, she was reactivated in 1970 to establish a new weather station off Norfolk, Virginia. Gresham was decommissioned in 1973 and sold for scrap later that year. The USS Willoughby stands as a notable example of wartime auxiliary support vessels that played vital roles in the Pacific campaigns and later served in weather and patrol operations for the Coast Guard, reflecting both wartime versatility and peacetime utility.

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