U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 98/WAL521
YEAR BUILT: 1915
BUILT AT: Muskegon (MI)
BUILDER: Racine-Truscott-Shell Lake Boat Co
APPROPRIATION: None
(Paid from USLHS general appropriation Aug 16, 1912)
CONTRACT PRICE: $87,025
SISTER VESSELS: LV 96 / WAL 520
DESIGN: Self-propelling; steel whaleback hull; one large diameter tubular lantern mast amidships; steel pilot/chart house forward
LENGTH: 101' 0" (loa); BEAM: 23'6"; DRAFT: 11'0"; TONNAGE: 195 displ, fresh water
PROPULSION: One 4-cylinder Mietz & Weiss kerosene engine, 10' bore x 12' stroke, 100 IHP, propeller 4' dia; speed approx 5-6 knots
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Large cylindrical lantern housing with electric lamp and revolving parabolic reflector giving 1000 cp flash, 42 ft above water
FOG SIGNAL: 6" air siren; hand operated bell; siren operated by two 3 cylinder compressors driven by kerosene engines
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES &
IMPROVEMENTS:
1915: When built, equipped with 2 kerosene engine generator sets and
storage batteries for powering the light and motor driven reflector-
1916: Submarine bell signal added-
1927: Equipped with radiobeacon-
1930: Cylindrical lantern housing removed, replaced with duplex 375mm
electric lens lantern mounted in masthead gallery, 13,OOOcp-
193?: Fog signal changed to air diaphragm horn (17" Leslie typhon)-
1945: Repowered with Cooper Bessemer 315HP diesel, 5'6" dia propeller,
max speed 6 knots-
Radio and visual call sign NMGO (1940-1955)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1915-1918: Buffalo (NY)
1919-1920: Relief (12th District)
1920-1928: Lansing Shoal (MI)
1929: Relief (12th District)
1930-1951: Handkerchief Shoal (MA)
1951-1955: Relief (MA)
(Buffalo station discontinued 1918)
(Lansing shoal station discontinued 1928 Oct 6)
(1942-1945 During WWII, remained on Handkerchief station; no armament
provided)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1914: Jun 9, launched at the contractor's yard-
1915: Feb 8-12, inspected in advance of sea trials; sea trials carried out
in March, final tests completed and delivered by contractor Mar 29-
1915: Jun 12, placed on Buffalo (NY) station, Lake Erie, 13 miles off
entrance to Buffalo Harbor; red hull lettered "Buffalo" in white,
showing flashing white light. As with all Great Lakes lightships, vessel was
withdrawn from station during the period the Lakes were closed to
navigation, usually Nov/Dec through Mar/Apr each year. Necessary repairs
were performed while the vessel was in in winter quarters-
After Relief assignment 1919-1920, placed on Lansing Shoal Sep 20, 1920-
1928: Struck by passing steamers in heavy fog Jul 8 and Aug 4-
1928: Oct 6, withdrawn from Lansing Shoal, station discontinued-
Thereafter served as indicated under Station Assignments
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1955; AGE: 40
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Jan 18, 1955; sold Jul 28, 1955
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 98 / WAL 521
1915-1916: Melvin Carpenter, Master
1915: John Davis, Mate
1915-1916: George Jackson, Mate
1916-1919: George Jackson, Master
1917-1918: Joseph Frawley, Mate
1918-1919: Edward A Hansen, Mate
1919-1920: Edward A Hansen, Master
1919: Richard D Baxter, Mate
1920-?: Elias Garrett, Master
1920-?: Daniel A Garrett, Mate
?-1936: George Braithwaite, Master
1936-1937: William J Collins, Mate
1937-1938: Clifford Anderson, Mate
1947-1951: CWO A J LeBlanc, CO
1951-1952: BMC Gerald Robinson, OIC
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