U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
U.S. NAVY TEMPORARY LIGHTSHIPS
Under its responsibility for providing safe return of troops from Europe
after World War I, and in view of the danger from enemy mines existing off
the east coast, the Navy performed minesweeping to insure a safe channel
into the principal ports of debarkation. The centerline of the offshore
entrance to these one mile wide channels were marked by temporary lightship
stations maintained by the Navy. These swept channels extended from existing
approach aids maintained by the Lighthouse Service to more than 30 miles
offshore from Boston, New York, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Charleston
to facilitate landfall for troop carriers following great circle tracks from
French and Mediterranean ports. The seven vessels involved were Navy
minesweepers, using additional equipment provided by the Lighthouse Service.
These "lightships" were placed on station commencing December
1918, and were discontinued during the summer of 1919.
A brief description of these vessels follows:
USS EASTHAMPTON (No. 573)
Former commercial ocean going tug
Built 1913 - 162'9" loa - purchased by USN 1917 and converted for
towing and minesweeping
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 41 feet,
steam whistle, and submarine bell signal
Painted gray, no distinguishing marks
Stationed 16.4 mi - 077 degrees from Boston Lightship Decommissioned 1919,
sold to private interests 1920
USS CARDINAL (AM-6)
Lapwing Class minesweeper
Built 1918 - 187'10'loa x 36'6" x 10' - 950 tons displ
Crew complement 78
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 51 feet,
steam
siren, submarine bell signal
Painted gray with white bows, marked "NY 2" in black
Stationed 29.5 mi - 115 degrees from Ambrose Lightship
Later wrecked near Dutch Harbor AK in 1923
USS FINCH (AM-9)
Lapwing Class minesweeper
Built 1918 - 187'10" ba x 36'6" x 10' - 950 tons displ
Crew complement 78
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 51 feet,
steam
siren, and submarine bell signal
Painted gray with black bows, marked "NY 1" in white
Stationed 56 mi - 115 degrees from Ambrose Lightship
Later sunk by Japanese bomber near Corregidor in 1942
USS FALCON (AM-28)
Lapwing Class minesweeper
Built 1918 - 187'10" loa x 36'6" x 10'- 950 tons displ
Crew complement 78
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 51 feet,
steam
siren, and submarine bell signal
Painted gray, no distinguishing marks
Stationed 57 mi - 072 degrees from Five Fathom Bank Lightship
Later converted to submarine rescue vessel (ASRă2), and noted for
participation
in salvage operations in connection with submarines S-51 and SQUALUS.
Decommissioned 1946
USS BRANT (AM-24)
Lapwing Class minesweeper
Built 1918 - 187'l0" loa x 36'6" x 10' - 950 tons displ
Crew complement '78
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 50 feet, and
5team siren
Painted gray, marked BRANT on sides in black
Stationed 56.1 miles- 081 degrees from Cape Henry Light
Converted to tug (AT-132) in 1919, and during WWII to salvage tug (APS-32),
then
transferred to US Maritime Commission 1936
USS OWL (AM-2)
Lapwing CLss minesweeper
Built 1918 - 187'10" loa x 36'6" x 10' - 950 tons displ Crew
complement 78
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 50 feet, and
steam siren
Painted gray, marked OWL on sides in black
Stationed 21 mi - 090 degrees from Cape Henry Light
Converted to tug (AT-137) in 1919, then (ATO-137). Later participated in
"D-Day" operations during the Normandy landing. Decommissioned
1946
USS LONG ISLAND
Former offshore trawler built 1912 - 164'4" boa x 24'1" x
6'9"
Purchased by USN 1917 and converted for towing and minesweeping
Equipped with a cluster of three 80cp electric lens lanterns at 50 feet, and
steam whistle
Painted gray
Stationed 33.5 mi - 088 degrees from Charleston Lightship
Decommissioned and sold 1919
All of the foregoing vessels were converted to lightship use with equipment
supplied by the United States Lighthouse Service
Canvas covered crows nests on each mast served as daymarks
A Crosby automatic signal control was fitted to the vessels' normal sound signal which then served as the fog signal. A controller was also provided to produce the specified light characteristic
All vessels were moored with a 5,000 pound mushroom, using 2 1/4 inch wire rope from the towing winch aft, led through a turning block and thence forward along the ports side passageway to the hawsepipe
(For further details, see also the Reference Notes for US Lightship
Stations, Index Numbers 117 through 123)
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