YEAR BUILT: 1904

BUILT AT: Port Richmond LI (NY)

APPROPRIATION: $90, 000

BUILDER: Burlee Drydock Co

CONTRACT PRICE: $83,076

SISTER VESSELS: Same plans and specs as LV 78,79,80,81,83

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull, 2 masts (spencer on main); daymarks on both masts and on jack stay between masts; lantern houses at both masts; pilot house; stack amidships

LENGTH: 129'6" (loa); BEAM: 28'8"; DRAFT: 126"; TONNAGE: 578 displ.

PROPULSION: One compound reciprocating steam engine, 380 SHP; 2 Foster-Wheeler watertube boilers; max speed 10 knots

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil lens lanterns raised to each masthead

FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam whistle; hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 76
-1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal
-1920: Equipped with radio
-1922: Equipped with radio-beacon
-1930: Fog signal changed to diaphone
-1933: Fog signal changed to steam diaphragm horn (Leslie 17" typhon)
-193?: Illuminating apparatus converted to electric
-1945: Fitted with detection radar

-Radio & Visual Call Sign NNGS (1940ã1960)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 76
1905-1942: Relief (West Coast)
1942-1945: Examination Vessel, WWII
1945-1960: Relief (West Coast)
(1942-1945 during WWII, assigned to CG Hq; stationed at Alameda CA and used as training vessel; no armament provided)

HISTORICAL NOTES; LV 76 / WAL 504
-1904: May 26, delivered by contractor to Staten Island Depot (NY); tested during special trip delivering rations to various light stations in Long Island
Sound, then equipped and supplied for voyage to San Francisco
-1905: Feb 14, cleared NY for San Francisco in company with LV 83. Robert Quinton was Master of LV 76; B M Trott, Senior Master, LV 83. Each Master "was furnished instructions, credentials and means for prosecution of his voyage to the Pacific Coast" via Cape Horn. (Date of arrival San Francisco not found)
-1905: After layover at San Francisco, steamed to Astoria (OR)
-1905: Jul 17-Nov 2 1906, relieved Umatilla Reef LV 67, then remained at Astoria
-1906: Dec 10-16, steamed to San Francisco
-1907: Jan 2-Feb 11, relieved San Francisco LV '70; Jan 12, struck by barkentine causing much damage; returned to San Francisco for extensive repairs to hull and machinery; Mar? -Apr 26, again relieved LV 70; Mar 22ã25 dragged off station in severe storm; Apr 26, returned to San Francisco for repair
-1907: Jul 13, left for Astoria (OR) to relieved Umatilla Reef
-1922: Jan 23, while relieving San Francisco, parted chain in gale and went adrift; dropped harbor anchor; tender SEQUOIA recovered moorings and lightship regained station Jan 27.

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1960; AGE: 56

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Sep 16, 1960; sold Oct 9, 1961 plans for use as Seattle museum failed and vessel became coastal freighter CLAIRE ANNE at San Francisco; later used for fishing in Alaska in 1970s; 1987 in use as museum at Vancouver B.C. named CLAIRE ANNE. One of 3 oldest lightships still existing

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 76

1904-1905: Robert Quinton, Master (voyage commander New York-San Francisco 1905)
1904-1915: Edward Ward, Mate
1905: Arthur T Vany, (Feb-Mar, extra Mate detailed for voyage to west coast)
1905: Nicholas Lawrence (Feb- Jun, 2d Mate detailed for voyage to west coast)
1905-?: Peter Olson, Mate
1905-1915: Henry C Pierotti, Master
1915-1918: Owen F Fisher, Master
1918-?: August Nilson, Mate

1906-1930: LV-67 Please see above, THANK YOU!

My Story I served on LV 76

Story and pictures of this Ship in 2003

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Revised: 10/23/06.