U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 101 / WAL 524
LV-101, 1916
YEAR BUILT: 1916
BUILT AT: Wilmington (DE)
APPROPRIATION: ?
BUILDER: Pusey & Jones
CONTRACT PRICE: $108,507
SISTER VESSELS: LV 102 / WAL 525
DESIGN: Self propelled; steel whaleback hull; single large dia. tubular
lantern mast forward; steel pilot house/bridge at foot of mast; small jigger
mast aft
LENGTH: l0l'10" (loa); BEAM: 25'0"; DRAFT: 11'4"; TONNAGE: 360 displ
PROPULSION: One 200 HP Meitz & Weiss 4 cylinder 2 cycle direct reversing kerosene engine; 4 bladed propeller; speed 8 knots
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 500mm lens with 6 flash panels revolved by weight-driven clockwork, kerosene lamp; housed in cylindrical lantern: 24,000 cp
FOG SIGNAL: 6" air siren; mushroom type horn on deck; compressor driven by two 40 HP kerosene engines; submarine bell; hand operated 1000-lb bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES &
IMPROVEMENTS:
Launched Jan 12, 1916; completed and accepted Sep 2?, 1916-
1917: Iluminant changed from kerosene to acetylene-
1919: Equipped with radio-
1931: Equipped with radiobeacon-
1931: Illuminating apparatus converted to duplex 375 mm electric len~
lantern,
13,OOOcp each lamp, original cylindrical lantern housing removed-
1931: Fog signal changed to 10" air whistle-
1944: Repowered with Cooper-Bessemer 315HP diesel, 5'6" dia propeller,
max speed 8.2 knots-
1963: USCG lists vessel with F2T diaphone, CR-i03 radar; max draft
12'2", other characteristics in line with above-
Radio and visual call sign NMGQ (1940-1963)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1916-1924: Cape Charles-(VA)
1925-1926: Relief (VA) - (not used during entire year)
1926-1951: Overfalls (DE)
1951-1963: Stonehorse Shoal (MA)
(1942-1945: During WWII, remained on Overfalls station; no armament provided)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1916: Oct 4, placed on Cape Charles (VA)-
1920: Feb 4, parted chain and engine broke down; anchored until engine
repaired then regained station Feb 7-
1930: Jun, radiobeacon of Overfalls LV 101 sequenced with Five Fathom and
Winter Quarter stations-
1951: Transferred to 1st District; overhauled at Boston then placed on
Stonehorse Shoal (MA) May 1951
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1964; AGE: 48
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Mar 23, 1964; donated Sep 3, 1964; as of 1986 was dry berthed and open to the public as Portsmouth Lightship Museum, Portsmouth VA; marked with pseudo-name PORTSMOUTH
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 101 / WAL 524
1916-1917: A. T. Loss, Master
1916-1917: William H Harvey, Mate
1917: Charley E. O'Neal, Mate
1917: Benjamin J. Harris, Mate
1917: George Rollinson, Mate
1917-?: Frank L. Dixon, Mate
1917-1921: Thomas S. Simmons, Master
1921-?: Arthur M. Hudson, Master
1941: BMC Otto E. Lange, CO
1951: BMC Thurston L. Peabody, CO
1963: BMC William Gauthier, OIC
Courtesy of Art Richmond.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)