Construction and U.S. Navy Service
Gresham began life as the United States Navy Barnegat-class motor torpedo boat tender USS Willoughby (AGP-9). She was laid down on 15 March 1943 as a Barnegat-class small seaplane tender designated AVP-57 by Lake Washington Shipyard at Houghton, Washington. While under construction, she was converted into a motor torpedo boat tender and was launched as such on 21 August 1943. She commissioned into the U.S. Navy on 18 June 1944. She operated in support of the New Guinea campaign, the Philippines campaign, and operations in Borneo during World War II, and continued her Borneo operations after the war ended. She was decommissioned on 26 June 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 19 July 1946.
Read more about this topic: USCGC Gresham (WAVP-387)
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