YEAR BUILT: 1896
BUILT AT: Bath (ME)
BUILDER: Bath Iron Works
APPROPRIATION: $70,000
(Approp. for a Boston light vessel)
CONTRACT PRICE: $69,282
SISTER VESSELS: None
DESIGN: Steam screw; composite hull (steel sheathed with wood); main deck
fully enclosed under weather deck; 2 masts with lantern galleries; stack
amidships
LENGTH: 123'0" (loa); BEAM: 28'6"; DRAFT: 13'0"; TONNAGE: 590 displ (depth)
PROPULSION: Steam-one single cylinder surface condensing engine, 20"bore x 22" stroke, 350 IEP @ 150 rpm; 2 Watkins-Dickerson boilers each rated 300 hp; 4 bladed propeller; also rigged for sail
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 4 electric lens lanterns mounted in galleries at each masthead
FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam chime whistle
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV
66-
1896: Sep, Baird evaporator and distilling apparatus installed-
During the period 1896-1900, breaking adrift required replacement of 7
mushroom anchors and 565 fathoms chain-
1901: Aug, Marconi wireless telegraph equipment installed experimentally-
1904: Radio equipment permanently installed and placed in service; first
U.S. lightship permanently equipped with this capability for operational
use-
1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal-
1912: Provided with capability for showing either oil or electric lights-
1918: Illuminating apparatus converted to acetylene operation-
1923: Radio discontinued-
1931: Illuminating apparatus converted to electric operation
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 66
1896: Nantucket New South Shoal (MA)
1896-1907: Nantucket Shoals (MA)
1908-1918: Relief (MA)
1918-1923: Great Round Shoal (MA)
1923-1934: Cross Rip (MA)
HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 66-
1896: Jul 6, placed on Nantucket New South Shoal replacing LV 58; Oct 11,
parted
chain and adrift, picked up by AZALEA and replaced on station-
1896: Oct 17, station position moved 17 1/4 ml southeastward and name
changed
to Nantucket Shoals - repositioned by AZALEA-
1896: Dec 16, went adrift in gale losing anchor and 150 fathoms chain;
anchored
off Gay Head until weather moderated then steamed to station Dec 21-
1897: Feb 3, broke from mooring drifting 65 miles; came in and anchored
off
Falmouth, then coaled at New Bedford and steamed to station Feb 6-
1898: Jan 23, lost anchor and chain in gale; drifted 35 miles then steamed
to
New Bedford, coaled and steamed back to station Jan 27-
1898: Sep 26-Nov 3, relieved (by LV 58) for repairs-
1899: Feb 13, broke adrift losing anchor and chain; steamed to New Bedford
Feb 16; LV 58 then relieved the station Feb 17 until return of LV 66 Feb
25-
1899: Mar 29, broke adrift losing anchor and 120 fathoms chain, drifting
35 ml
eastward, regained station May 31; Sep 27, relieved by LV 58 and steamed
to
New Bedford for coal and rations; resumed station Oct 8-
1900: Jan 2, broke adrift in NW gale; steamed to New Bedford having lost
both
anchors and chain, replaced on station by AZALEA Jan 6
More motes: LV 66-
1900: Oct 26-Dec 25, relieved (by LV 58) for extensive underwater and
machinery repairs; 1 propeller blade found broken off and since no spare
available, opposite blade was removed and LV 66 returned to station as the
Relief LV 58 had gone adrift-
1901: Aug, Marconi wireless telegraph equipment "temporarily and
experimentally installed"; Oct 17-Nov 17, relieved (by LV 58) for repairs-
1904: Radio placed in service; 1st US lightship permanently equipped with
radio-
1906: Jan 18-Mar 7, relieved by LV 71 (5th District) for urgently needed
repairs-
1906 Nov 21-Jan 2 1907, relieved (by LV 78 from 3d District) for repairs-
Assigned Relief duty 1908-1918-
Assigned Great Round Shoal 1918-1923; Cross Rip 1923, Dec 22-1934-
1928: Jan 25, parted chain and adrift; ANEMONE recovered moorings and
repositioned lightship on station Jan 27
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1934; AGE: 38
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold 1934
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 66
1896-1903: James Jorgensen, Master
1904-1913: Frank Doane, Master
1906-?: Rufus T Chase, Mate
1917-?: William G Collins, Mate
1918: Manuel T Chantre, Mate
1918-1925: Charles L Gage, Mate
Copyright © 2004 United States Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association
INC. All rights reserved. Copyrights also protected
by the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act of
1998
Revised: 10/23/06.
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