LV 114 WAL 536 Shown on shake down cruise.
YEAR BUILT: 1930
BUILT AT: Portland (OR)
APPROPRIATION: ?
BUILDER: Albina Iron Works
CONTRACT PRICE: $228,121
SISTER VESSELS: LV 100, 113, 115, 116, 117
DESIGN: Diesel-electric propelled; steel hull and steel deckhouses; 2 masts with lantern galleries; 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 SEP @ 300 RPM; 5'l0" dia propeller Max speed 10 knots, average 9 knots
ILLUMINATiNG APPARATUS: 375mm electric lens lantern at each masthead, 16,000cp
FOG SIGNAL: Air diaphone using 4-way multiple horns; hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES &
IMPROVEMENTS: LV 114-
1930: Equipped with radio, radiobeacon, and submarine bell when built-
1945: Fitted with detection radar-
1946?: Cargo doors welded shut-
1958: USCG lists vessel with air diaphragm horn (17" Leslie typhon); MB-3 radar;
other characteristics as above-
Radio and visual call sign NMJB (1940-1971)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 114 / WAL 536
1930-1942: Fire Island (NY)
1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII
1945-1947: Diamond Shoal (NC)
1947-1958: Relief (1st District)
1958-1969: Pollock Rip (MA)
1969-1971: Portland (ME)
(1942-1945: During WWII, assigned to 3d district stationed at Bay Shore (NY); used as examination vessel; armed with one 6-pounder)
HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 114 / WAL 536-
1930: Aug 5-Sep 20, with layovers at San Francisco, San Pedro, Balboa, Navassa,
Charleston, and Portsmouth (VA); made the 5,892 mile passage from Portland (OR)
to New York via Panama Canal - first US lightship to make a West to East Coast
transit
More notes:
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1971; AGE: 41
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Nov 5, 1971; planned
to be used as
Coast Guard mobile museum but not so used; transferred to City of New Bedford
(MA); afloat and on display marked with pseudo name NEW BEDFORD
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 114 / WAL 536
1930-1937: Kolb Skari, Mate
1930-1937: Arthur Bruggeman, Master
1956-1957: CWO Ken Black, CO
1957-1958: WO Arthur H Cushing, OIC
1958: CWO Paul F Drumgoole, CO
1958: BMC F W Snell, OlC
1958-1960: CWO Samuel N Low, CO
1960-1963: CWO Earl A Eriksen, CO
1963-1964: CWO Kenneth V Capel,CO
1964-1966: CWO Oliver V Brannan, CO
1966-1969: CWO Elbert L Roller, CO
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.
One More Tidbit About The Fire Island Lightship.