U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 100/WAL 523
YEAR BUILT: 1929
BUILT AT: Portland (OR)
BUILDER: Albina Marine Iron Works
APPROPRIATION: ?
CONTRACT PRICE: $228, 121
SISTER VESSELS: LV 113,114,115,116,117
DESIGN: Dieselãelectric screw; steel hull and deckhouses; 2 masts; smokestack amidships
LENGTH: 133'3" (loa); BEAM: 30'0"; DRAFT: 13'3"; TONNAGE: 630 displ
PROPULSION: Diesel-electric; one 350 HP electric motor driven by any or all of four 75 KW diesel engine-generator units; 350 SHP at 300 rpm; max speed 10 knots average 9 knots
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 375mm electric lens lantern with 1000 watt lamp at each mast head
FOG SIGNAL: Air diaphone via 4-way cast iron horn; hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES &
IMPROVEMENTS:
First US lightship built with diesel-electric propulsion system;
reported as representing a savings of 100 tons relative to a similar steam
propelled vessel-
Delivered and placed in commission 1930-
1930: Equipped with radio and radiobeacon when built-
1933: Radiobeacon synchronized with fog signal for distance finding-
1945: Fitted with detection radar and sonar-
Radio and visual call sign NMGP (1940-1971)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1930-1942: Blunts Reef (CA)
1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII
1945-1969: Blunts Reef (CA)
1959-1969: Relief (West Coast)
1969-1971: San Francisco (CA)
(1942-1945: During WWlI, withdrawn and assigned to NORWESTSEAFRON, stationed at Eureka CA and used as examination vessel; no armament provided. Classed as a "YN" net tender during the period)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1929: Jun 17 launched on Portland Oregon's "Marine Day" with
large celebration-
1929: Oct 21/22, builders trials; Oct 23 departed for San Francisco in
advance of being assigned to duty on Blunts Reef-
1930: Commissioned at San Francisco and placed on Blunts Reef station off
Cape Mendocino (CA)
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1971; AGE: 42
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned May 12, 197l; transferred to U.S. Navy Aug 6, 1971 for further transfer to Vietnam.
COMMANDING OFFICERS:
1937-?: Alfred J. M. Prien, Mate
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Click here to view a photo of LV-100.
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