1907-1929

Location & historical notes: Georgia, marked the approaches to Brunswick; positioned southeasterly from Jekyll Island and 14 miles bearing 124 degrees from St. Simons Lighthouse.  The station was replaced by the Brunswick lighted whistle buoy.

Lightships assigned:

1907-1929: LV-84 / WAL-509 (The only lightship to occupy this station)

YEAR BUILT: 1907

BUILT AT: Camden (NJ)

BUILDER: New York Shipbuilding Co

APPROPRIATION: $115,000

CONTRACT PRICE: $99,000

SISTER VESSELS: LV 85,86,87,88

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull, wood pilot house and deckhouses, 2 steel masts, wood spencer on main only; smokestack amidships

LENGTH: 135'S" (loa); BEAM: 29'0"; DRAFT: 12'9"; TONNAGE: 683 displ

PROPULSION: Steam - one compound reciprocating engine, 16" and 31" bores x 24" stroke, 32S IHP; 2 boilers 9'3" dia x 16'4" 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 84-
1907: Equipped with submarine bell signal-
1918: Equipped with radio-
1920: Illuminant converted from oil to acetylene-
1929: Equipped with radiobeacon electric lens lanterns installed-
1934: Repowered; Atlas Imperial 375 HP Diesel main engine; 5' dia 4 blade prop-
1935: Fog signal changed to air diaphragm horn; radio beacon synchronized with
fog signal-
1945: Fitted with detection radar-
1960: USCG lists the vessel with two 375mm 13,OOOcp lens lanterns, Bendix MR3
radar; other characteristics as above-
Radio and visual call sign NMGG (1940-1965)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 84
1907-1929: Brunswick (GA)
1929-1954: St Johns River (FL)
1954-1960: Relief (6th District)
1960-1965: Relief (3d District)

(Brunswick station discontinued 1929)
(1942-1945: During WWII remained on St Johns River station; no armament provided)

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1965 AGE: 58

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Oct 26, 1965; donated Aug 7, 1968 then
used by Harry Lundeburg School, Seafarers Int'l Union, Piney Point MD; named
Big Red; 1987 sold and towed to Yonkers NY to be used as floating restaurant.
Original compartmentation and interior no longer intact.

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 84 / WAL 509

?-1916: George Larsen, Mate
1916-1917: J W Fullwood, Mate
1917-1918: Joseph P Francis, Mate
1918-1919: William Wurthman, Mate
1920-?: Joseph P Francis, Mate
?-1924: Henrik Henrikson, Master
1924-1927: Hans Mathisen, Master
?-1929: Henry Ulrich, Mate
1927-1929: John A Jansson, Master

1936: Timothy A Hurley, Mate
1936-1937: William C Maynardi, Mate
1937-?: Oscar D Nelson, Master
1960: WO A J Brovey, OIC

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Revised: 10/23/06.