1930-1939: LV-93 / WAL-517
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 93 / WAL 517
1939-1942: LV-88 / WAL-513
YEAR BUILT: 1907
BUILT AT: Camden (NJ)
BUILDER: New York Shipbuilding Co
APPROPRIATION: ?
CONTRACT PRICE: $90,000
SISTER VESSELS: LV 84,85,86,87
DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull, wood pilothouse and deckhouses; 2 steel masts,
wood spencer on main only; smokestack amidships
LENGTH: 135'5" (loa); BEAM: 29'0"; DRAFT: 12'9"; TONNAGE: 683 displ
PROPULSION: Steam - one compound reciprocating engine, 16" and 31" bores x 24" stroke, 325 IHP; 2 boilers 93" dia x i6'4" long; propeller 7'9" dia; design max speed 10 knots; also rigged for sail initially
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil lens lanterns raised to each masthead
FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam chime whistle; hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS -
EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 88-
1909: Equipped with submarine bell signal-
1920: Equipped with radio-
1924: Equipped with radiobeacon-
1927: 375mm electric lens lanterns installed in gallery at each masthead-
1933: Fog signal changed to steam diaphragm horn (17" Leslie Typhon)-
1934: Radiobeacon synchronized with fog signal for distance finding-
193?: Steam propulsion system replaced with diesel-electric-
1935: Fog signal changed to air diaphragm horn-
1945: Fitted with detection radar-
Radio and visual call sign NMGJ (1940ã1960)
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 88/WAL 513
1909-1939: Columbia River (WA)
1939-1942: Umatilla Reef (WA)
1942-1945:
Examination Vessel, WWII {See Below.}
1945-1959: Umatilla Reef (WA)
1959-1960: Relief (West Coast)
(1942-1945) Assigned to NOWESTSEAFRON, stationed at Seattle WA The LS-88 in 1942 after having armament added for service during World War II. Note the 3"/23 caliber main battery forward, the "Y" gun depth charge projector on her stern as well as the three anti-aircraft weapons (20mm??) under tarps, one on the flying bridge and two on the raised stern deckhouse. The Navy eventually added a SO-1 radar as well.
HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 88 / WAL 513-
1908: Having been assigned duty on the West Coast, LV 88 in company with LV 92
and 93; and three lighthouse tenders SEQUOIA, MANZANITA, and KUKUI departed in
convoy from New York and made the voyage to San Francisco in 124 days-
1914: Jan 2, during SR storm after steaming ahead for 11 hours, a boarding sea
stove in the pilot house sheared off steering compass, bent steering wheel shaft
and carried away bridge binnacle. Also carried away ventilator and galley stack;
damaged engine room skylight flooding engine room; smashed ports in after house
and carried away deck stanchions; 2 crew injured by flying glass
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1960; AGE: 53
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned
Nov 23, 1960; sold to scrap yard Jul 25, 1962; then became floating exhibit at
Columbia River Maritime Museum 1963-1979 then sold. Plans for floating
restaurant failed then sold in 1982 to Claude Lacerte, converted to half
brigantine BELLE BLONDE, to Quebec 1984 for charter use. Survived a hurricane
in 1985 with the loss of one crewman swept overboard. The vessels then sailed
back to the Caribbean where it was used for 7 day cruises around the islands.
It was then sold and delivered to Japan in 1988.
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 88 / WAL 513
1909-1918: J Nielsen, Master
1909-1913: William A Steel, Mate
1918-?: David Ingram, Master
1918: Andrew G Anderson, Mate
1918: Gustav B Howe, Mate
1918-1919: Nils S Kroger, Mate
1919-1921: Andrew G Anderson, Mate
1925-?: Jacob Nielsen, Mate
1936-?: Leslie A Leadbetter, Master
?-1938: Robert Barber, Mate
1938-?: Henry Hobson, Mate
1942-1945: marked by a buoy during World War II (As shown above.)
1945-1959: LV-88 / WAL-513 Please see above, Thank You!
1959-1961: marked by a buoy
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Revised: 10/23/06.