U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: WLV 605
(WAL-605, circa 1955)
YEAR BUILT: 1950
BUILT AT: East Boothbay (ME)
BUILDER: Rice Brothers
APPROPRIATION: ?
CONTRACT PRICE: $651,000
SISTER VESSELS: WLV 604
DESIGN: Diesel propelled; steel hull and deckhouses: breakwater on foredeck; 2 masts; stack amidships
LENGTH: 158' 0" (loa); BEAM: 30' 0"; DRAFT: 11 '0"; TONNAGE: 617 displ. ("light")
PROPULSION: Diesel - Atlas Imperial 550HP @ 750rpm; 7' dia. propeller: max speed 10.7 knots
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Dunlex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast
only;
15, 000cp each light
FOG SIGNAL: Twin F2T diaphones mounted aft of pilot house
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS -- EQUIPMENT CHANGES &
IMPROVEMENTS:
-Same general plan and features as for WLV 180-
-Used all-welded construction with transverse bulkheads carried up to
weather deck level; hawsepipes carried to main deck before leading to chain
locker; alternating current electrical system throughout-
-Laid down 1949 Mar 1, involved in fire when 65% complete; launched 1950 May
4, sponsor Miss Elizbeth F Loughlin, Washington DC: -Sea trials- 1951 Feb 7;
delivered 1951 Feb 15.-
-Designated WAL 605 when built, changed to WLV in 1965-
-1964 USCG lists vessel with CG high intensity 500,000cp light on mainmast,
duplex 375mm lens- lantern on fore, 13, 000cp each light; CR-103 radar Radio
and visual call sign NKVY (1951 1975)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1951-1960: Overfalls (DE)
1960-1969: Blunts Reef' (CA)
1969-1975: Relief (West Coast)
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1975; AGE: 25
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Jan 1, 1976; acquired by State Capital Museum Association Olympia WA 1978; sold 1979 to Alan Hoskins and used for tours at Half Noon Bay (CA). Acquired by US Lighthouse Society San Francisco, Dec 1988. Berthed San Francisco Bay area, on display as floating museum
COMMANDING OFFICERS: WLV 605
1956: CWO L. R. Smith, CO
1957: CWO McDonald, CO
CWO1 R. P. McMullen
LTJG Erickson, CO (on transit from the east coast to the west coast)
CREWMEN ON TRANSIT FROM EAST COAST TO WEST COAST
Pickens, Herbert C., BMC
Squires, Acey BM1
Lushinsky, John BM1
Davidson, Richard EN1
Gebbart, EN1
Moeller, Richard RM2
Berrick, Robert, EM3
Meixner, Carl E., EM3
Smith, EM3
Weinberg, Steve ET3
Lewczak, FN-EN
Hutchinson, George FN
Ryan, Lawrence FN
Hatch, SN
Pandolf, SN
King, SN
Wilky, SN
1966-1967: Eugene Ostlund, CO
1969-1972: Edward Hall, CO
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Click here to view a photo of the WAL-605.
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