YEAR BUILT: 1915

BUILT AT: Muskegon (MI)

BUILDER: Racine-Truscott-Shell Lake Boat Co

APPROPRIATION: None
(Paid from USLHS general appropriation Aug 16, 1912)

CONTRACT PRICE: $87,025

SISTER VESSELS: LV 96 / WAL 520

DESIGN: Self-propelling; steel whaleback hull; one large diameter tubular lantern mast amidships; steel pilot/chart house forward

LENGTH: 101' 0" (loa); BEAM: 23'6"; DRAFT: 11'0"; TONNAGE: 195 displ, fresh water

PROPULSION: One 4-cylinder Mietz & Weiss kerosene engine, 10' bore x 12' stroke, 100 IHP, propeller 4' dia; speed approx 5-6 knots

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Large cylindrical lantern housing with electric lamp and revolving parabolic reflector giving 1000 cp flash, 42 ft above water

FOG SIGNAL: 6" air siren; hand operated bell; siren operated by two 3 cylinder compressors driven by kerosene engines

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 98-
1915: When built, equipped with 2 kerosene engine generator sets and storage
batteries for powering the light and motor driven reflector-
1916: Submarine bell signal added-
1927: Equipped with radiobeacon-
1930: Cylindrical lantern housing removed, replaced with duplex 375mm electric
lens lantern mounted in masthead gallery, 13,OOOcp-
193?: Fog signal changed to air diaphragm horn (17" Leslie typhon)-
1945: Repowered with Cooper Bessemer 315HP diesel, 5'6" dia propeller, max
speed 6 knots-
Radio and visual call sign NMGO (1940-1955)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 98 / WAL 521
1915-1918: Buffalo (NY)
1919-1920: Relief (12th District)
1920-1928: Lansing Shoal (MI)
1929: Relief (12th District)
1930-1951: Handkerchief Shoal (MA)
1951-1955: Relief (MA)

(Buffalo station discontinued 1918)
(Lansing shoal station discontinued 1928 Oct 6)
(1942-1945 During WWII, remained on Handkerchief station; no armament provided)


HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 98 / WAL 521-
1914: Jun 9, launched at the contractor's yard-
1915: Feb 8-12, inspected in advance of sea trials; sea trials carried out in March, final tests completed and delivered by contractor Mar 29-
1915: Jun 12, placed on Buffalo (NY) station, Lake Erie, 13 miles off entrance to Buffalo Harbor; red hull lettered "Buffalo" in white, sho win~ flashing white light. As with all Great Lakes lightships, vessel was withdrawn from station during the period the Lakes were closed to navigation, usually Nov/Dec through Mar/Apr each year. Necessary repairs were performed while the vessel was in in winter quarters-
After Relief assignment 1919-1920, placed on Lansing Shoal Sep 20, 1920-
1928: Struck by passing steamers in heavy fog Jul 8 and Aug 4-
1928: Oct 6, withdrawn from Lansing Shoal, station discontinued-
Thereafter served as indicated under Station Assignments


RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1955; AGE: 40

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Jan 18, 1955; sold Jul 28, 1955


COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 98 / WAL 521

1915-1916: Melvin Carpenter, Master
1915: John Davis, Mate
1915-1916: George Jackson, Mate
1916-1919: George Jackson, Master
1917-1918: Joseph Frawley, Mate
1918-1919: Edward A Hansen, Mate
1919-1920: Edward A Hansen, Master
1919: Richard D Baxter, Mate
1920-?: Elias Garrett, Master
1920-?: Daniel A Garrett, Mate
?-1936: George Braithwaite, Master
1936-1937: William J Collins, Mate
1937-1938: Clifford Anderson, Mate
1947-1951: CWO A J LeBlanc, CO
1951-1952: BMC Gerald Robinson, OIC

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