Editing Lightship (section)

====Naming and numbering====
Up to and through the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] lightships were identified by name, usually that of the station where they served, but as they were moved from station to station, the keeping of records became confusing. In 1867 all existing lightships were given numbers by which they would be permanently identified, and the station at which they were presently serving was painted on their sides, to be changed as needed. Lightships held in reserve to serve in place of those in dock for maintenance were labeled "RELIEF".<ref name="USCG.early">{{cite web|
url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblightships/Early.asp|title=Early U.S. Lightships|publisher=[[United States Coast Guard]]|access-date=2008-07-16}}</ref> Surviving lightships are commonly taken to be named according to these labels, but for instance the "Lightship ''[[United States lightship Chesapeake (LV-116)|Chesapeake]]''" actually served at two other stations as well as being used for examinations, and last served at the Delaware Light Station. In another case, the ''LV-114'' was labeled "NEW BEDFORD", though there has never been such a station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=617 |title=Lightship New Bedford LV 114/WAL 536 |date=2010-05-23 |publisher=Lighthousefriends.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004131113/http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=617 |archive-date=2012-10-04 }}</ref> In an attempt to sort out the early lightships, they were assigned one or two letter designations sometime around 1930; these identifications do not appear in early records, and they are to some degree uncertain.<ref name="USCG.early" />

There are three different and overlapping series of hull numbers. The Lighthouse Service assigned numbers beginning with "LV-" and starting from 1; however, not all numbers were used. When the Coast Guard took over the lighthouse service, all existing lightships were renumbered with "WAL-" prefixes, beginning with "WAL-501". In 1965 they were renumbered again, this time with "WLV-"; however in this case the numbers given were not sequential. Given that only six vessels were constructed after the Coast Guard takeover, the "LV-" series numbers are most commonly used.