USS Tarantula (SP-124)

USS Tarantula (SP-124) was a patrol boat in the United States Navy. She was named after the tarantula.

East Coast Assignment
Tarantula was built as a motor yacht in 1912 at Neponset, Massachusetts, by George Lawley and Son Corp. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 25 April 1917 from W. K. Vanderbilt of New York City. Assigned to section patrol in the 3rd Naval District during World War I, Tarantula operated along the coastal waters of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey until October 1918.

Collision and sinking
On 28 October, she sank about 8 mi southwest of the Fire Island light vessel after colliding with the Royal Holland Lloyd Line steamship SS Frisia. Her name was subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

Her owner was subsequently paid $75,000 to cover Tarantula's value.