YEAR BUlLT: 1891

BUILT AT: Toledo (OH)

APPROPRIATION: $60, 000

BUILDER: Blythe Craig Shipbuilding Co

PROPULSION: Steam screw-one single cylinder non-condensing engine, 14" bore 16" stroke, 100 IEP; fire-tube boiler 5'dia x 9'lg; max speed 8 knots

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 57
1891-1923: Grays Reef (MI)
(1896: Apr 26, position moved 3150 feet SE x E)

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1923; AGE: 32

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSIT ION: Not listed in records after FY 1924, assume sold

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 57
1892-?: Maynard S Corlett, Master
?-1914: Peter D Ance, Mate
1914-?: Peter D Ance, Master
1914-1916: Thorwald Berntsen, Mate
1916-1917: Olaf J Nelson Mate
1917: Reinhart Larsen, Mate
1917: Fred P Klaus, Mate (temp)
1917: Lewis N Allard, Mate (temp)

BUILT AT: Morris Heights (NY)

APPROPRIATION: ?

BUILDER: Consolidated Shipbuilding Co

CONTRACT PRICE: $161,074

SISTER VESSELS: None

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull; tubular lantern mast forward, small jigger mast aft; steel pilothouse at foot of lantern mast; smokestack amidships

LENGTH: 96'5" (loa); BEAM: 24'0"; DRAFT: 9'6"; TONNAGE: 310 displ (fresh water)

PROPULSION: Steam - one compound reciprocating engine, 175 IHP; 2 coal fired Scotch boilers

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: One acetylene lens lantern, 300mm

FOG SIGNAL: 10" steam whistle; hand operated bell

1921-1923: Relief
1924-1926: Grays Reef (MI)
1927-1928: Relief (12th District)
1929: Grays Reef (MI)
1929-1933: Relief (12th District)
1934-1935: North Manitou Shoal (MI)
1935: Relief (11th District)
1936-1970: Lake Huron (MI)

(Hull color changed from red to black - 1936)
(1942-1945: During WWII remained assigned to Lake Huron station)

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 103 / WAL 526-
1920: Dec 3/4 sea trials completed in New York, conditionally accepted-
1921: steamed to Maine, picked up by HIBISCUS May 18 and towed (with LV 99) to St Lawrence River entrance; both lightships then steamed to Ogdensburg NY, met by CROCUS and escorted to Detroit, LV 103 then steamed to Milwaukee arriving Jun 9 and assigned Relief duty-
1936: Hull color changed from red to black when placed on Huron station.- 
From 1945 onward, this was the only black lightship in service.

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1970; AGE: 50

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 103 / WAL 526
1920-?: Hiram S Hill, Master

1957-1958: BMC Milo V. Collins, OIC*
1958-1959: BMC McDonald, OIC (Former Lighthouse Service employee)*
1959-?: BMC William Buxton, OIC*
1962: BMC Leon DeRosia, OIC

1927-1928: LV-56

YEAR BUILT: 1891

BUILT AT: Toledo (OH)

BUILDER: Blythe Craig Shipbuilding Co

APPROPRIATION: $60,000
(Approp. for 3 ships-Simmons Reef, White Shoal, & Grays Reef)

CONTRACT PRICE: $14,225 ($42,675 for 3 ships)

SISTER VESSELS: LV 55,57

DESIGN: Wood framed and planked; white oak fastened with 5/8" square iron spikes 2 masts, daymark on foremast; spencer mast aft of main for riding sail; stack on deckhouse amidships

LENGTH: 102'8" (loa); BEAM: 20'; DRAFT: 89"; TONNAGE: 130 gross

PROPULSION: Steam screw-one single cylinder non-condensing engine; 14" bore x 16" stroke, 100 IEP, fire-tube boiler 5' dia x 9'lg; max speed 8 knots

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil burning lens lanterns hoisted to each mast head

FOG SIGNAL: 6" steam whistle, hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 56

-One of 3 vessels designed for use only during the navigation season on the Great Lakes, as an experiment to avoid the high initial and recurring costs for a permanent lighthouse. Maintenance and operating cost for each lightship was estimated at $4,000 per year. Each had enough power for getting to and from station. Mooring, consisting of a 5 ton sinker and 15 fathoms of 2 inch chain was prepositioned permanently eliminating the need (and cost) for the lightship to carry mushrooms and chain - First US lightships with propelling engine
-Upon delivery, many construction defects were found during sea trials, and many interior modifications had to be made for comfort of the crew
-1891: Masts found unnecessarily long; shortened during winter layup
-1893: Fog bell added
-1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal
-1913: After spencer mast removed 1913/1914; hull lettering shortened to MANITOU

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 56

1891-1909: White Shoal (MI)
1910-1926: North Manitou Shoal (MI)
1927-1928: Grays Reef (MI)

(White Shoal station discontinued 1909)

HISTORICAL NOTES; LV 56
-1891: Sep 14/15, turned over to Lighthouse Establishment at Detroit (MI)
-1891: Oct 2,5,6, sea trials conducted; many defects noted; fitted out
-1891: Oct 19, departed Detroit, reaching Port Huron in evening
-1891: Oct 20, LV 55,56 & 57 using their own power to assist were taken in tow
by tender DAHLIA, making 9 knots; laid over at Sand Beach Harbor of Refuge
due to bad weather
-1891: Oct 24, placed on White Shoal (MI), northerly end of Lake Michigan
-1891: Nov 17-20, left station without orders and put into Cheboygan; crew
discharged for dereliction of duty; replaced with others "more trustworthy";
vessel replaced on station by tender DAHLIA Nov 22, remaining until close of
navigation at which time put into Cheboygan winter quarters. Many deficiencies
due to missing, incomplete or faulty equipment were corrected during winter and
masts were shortened
-1892: Apr 14, resumed station until Dec 7; wintered at Cheboygan (MI)
-1892-1907: maintained station Apr/May to Dec, wintering at Cheboygan (Sturgeon
Bay WI in 1906). Needed repairs carried out each year in winter quarters
-1896: Fog signal in operation 371 hours consuming 17 tons coal & 2 1/2 cords
wood

More notes: LV 56
-1897: Smokestack replaced; deck houses enlarged and improved
-1898: Extensive interior modifications; boiler repairs
-1900: Due to rot, substantial amount of hull and deck planking replaced
-1902: Extensive hull repairs; stateroom built for Master
-1906: Extensive repairs to hull and machinery
-1909: Dec, withdrawn, White Shoal station discontinued
-1910: Placed on North Manitou Shoal (MI); remaining assigned through 1926
-1927: Placed on Grays Reef remaining through the 1928 season

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1928; AGE: 37

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold Dec 20, 1928

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 56

1892-1893: Samuel Dodd, Keeper
1893-?: Samuel Dodd, Master

?-1915: Charles B Corlett, Master
1915-1916: Richard D Baxter, Mate
1916-1917: Ervin Hartung, Mate
1917-1918: Hubert R Benson, Mate
1918-1921: Charles Cretean, Mate
1915-1918: Robert Bruce, Master
1918-1919: Albert F Pitman, Master
1920-1927: Edward A Hansen, Master
1921: John 0 Neil Jr, Mate
1922: Sigurd Frey, Mate
1922-1927: William J Stewart, Mate
1927-1928: William J Stewart, Master
1928: Louis A Anderson, Mate

? - 1929: LV-103 / WAL-526

{SEE ABOVE}

1929-1936: LV-99 / WAL-522

YEAR BUILT: 1920

BUILT AT: Boothbay Harbor (ME)

BUILDER: Rice Brothers

APPROPRIATION: ?

CONTRACT PRICE: $97,220

SISTER VESSELS: None

DESIGN: Steam screw; steel hull; single tubular lantern mast with gallery, short jigger mast aft for riding sail; steel pilot house with bridge; smokestack with fog whistle

LENGTH: 91'8" (loa); BEAM: 22'0"; DRAFT: 10'7"; TONNAGE: 215 displ, fresh water

PROPULSION: Steam -. one single cylinder engine, 125 IHP

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Single acetylene lens lantern

FOG SIGNAL: 10" steam whistle mounted on stack: hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 99-
1916: Jun 29, construction started but hull and other parts of vessel destroyed
by fire Jul 10 when 54% complete. New materials procured and vessel completely
rebuilt-
1919: Nov 7, launched: sea trials and conditional acceptance Nov 8/9-
1920: Dec 8, delivered by contractor-
1923: Equipped with submarine bell-
1930: Equipped with radiobeacon; illuminating apparatus electrified-
1931: Submarine bell discontinued-
Radio and visual call sign NNGI assigned 194.0ã19??-
1949/50: At USCG Yard, Curtis Bay, Md, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, shaft and propeller removed; vessel than refitted and equipped for use as an unmanned light vessel with capability for being remote controlled by radio - designated EXP-99
(See listing for EXP 99 for further details)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 99 / WAL 522
1921-1929: Poe Reef (Ml)
1929-1935: Grays Reef (MI)
1937-1942: Overfalls (DE)  (Our thanks to William Camp for this information.)
1942-1943: Examination Vessel, WWII
1943-1950: (located at Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, ND)
1950: (Designated EXP-99, and moved to 3rd District
1950-1956: ?

Poe Reef station discontinued Aug 5, 1929
Grays Reef station discontinued 1936
1937 , Sept transferred to 2d District and towed to Boston
1942-1943: During WWII, assigned to 7th District, stationed at Port Everglades (FL). and used as examination vessel; armed with one 3" gun and two 20mm.
1943-1950: Arrived Curtis Bay Yard 29 Mar 1943 arid commencing in 1949 vessel was extensively modified for use as an experimental, radio controlled lightship designated EXP 99, later referred to as Sandy Hook Experimental Lightship EXP.  Plans for placing it near Scotland Lightship during 1950 were indefinitely postponed and the experimental vessel was apparently never used.

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 99 / WAL 522-
1921: May 18, LV 99 and LV 103 towed from Maine to St Lawrence River entrance by HIBISCUS; lightships then proceeded independently to Ogdensburg NY, met by CROCUS and convoyed to Detroit. LV 99 placed in commission at Detroit Jul 21-
1921: Jul, placed on Poe Reef station-
1929: Assigned to Grays Reef until station discontinued in 1936-
1937: Sep, transferred to 2nd District and towed by tender HIBISCUS from Milwaukee (WI) via St Lawrence River to Boston (Chelsea Depot)
1937-1942: Service on the Overfalls, DE, station. (Our thanks to William Camp for this information.)

Modified version of LV 99./WAL 522 - Stern modified prior to 1943, stern tube welded shut, and all original machinery removed to accommodate equipment required for unattended operation, remotely controlled by radio from shore. This included three 20KW engine-generator sets (one operating, 2 standby) automatic bilge pumps, automatic fire extinguishing system, and two-way FM radio equipment which received coded radio signals from ashore, translating them to electro- mechanical signals for stopping and timing the operation of all installed equipment. Provision was also made for continuous monitoring of all systems and transmission of status data to the shore station. In addition to the illuminating apparatus and fog signal mentioned above, there were 2 sets of beacon gear (1 operating, 1 standby), an automated 1000lb fog bell, and an emergency battery power supply. The control system was developed by Westinghouse, the fog signal by RCA. Savings in annual operating costs were estimated at $59, 000 as compared to a conventional crewed lights-hip

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: EXP-99

Called SANDY HOOK EXPERIMENTAL LIGHTSHIP and following a two month period of continuous trial operation, was to have been placed near Scotland LI Lightship for evaluation, The control equipment was installed at the Sandy Hook Light station, and the lightship was moved from Curtis Bay to the Third District at Staten island about May 1950. However, establishment of the lightship station was postponed indefinitely, and no further reference to the vessel could be found.

The experimental lightship was apparently never placed in service.

(see historical notes)

HISTORICAL NOTES:EXP-99

Notices to Mariners contain the following:

1949 - New York Harbor, South Channel
NM Oct 8 - "About Jan 1, 1950 Sandy Hook Experimental Lightship EXP will be established 5850 yards, 94 degrees 30 minutes from Sandy Hook Light - red hull, EXE in white on sides, white superstructure, buff mast and gallery. Flashing red light every 6 seconds (1 second flash), 2000cp light at 40 feet visible 12 miles; electric chime diaphragm horn, 1 blast every 10 seconds (two second blast), Class B radiobeacon, range 10 miles, 298kc, (._.. ), 60 seconds on, 120 seconds off during 1st and 4th ten minute period of each hour in clear weather; continuous use in fog or low visibility. Note - lightship is unmanned and controlled from ashore. Position: 40 27.5 - 73 56.4." (this would place it about 1.3 mi - 315 degrees from Scotland Lightship)

1950 - New York Harbor, South Channel

NM Jan 7 - "Establishment of Sandy Hook Experimental Lightship has been postponed indefinitely." (No further reference found in NMs through 1955)

More notes:
A news release dated April 29, 1950 describing the experimental lightship and stating that it was to be placed on station during the summer of 1950 was carried by the New York Times and other newspapers. A similar write up with photographs appeared in the Coast Guard Magazine, and descriptive material and drawings appeared in Popular Science magazine

In the light of all the advance publicity, it is indeed peculiar that no follow-up explanation or reason for the postponement was presented in the media, and equally peculiar that no official records can be found- which address either the undertaking itself, or subsequent events and disposition of the vessel

It is concluded that the experimental lightship EXP-99 was never placed on station, and later history of the vessel is either non-existent or unavailable

RETIRED FROM LJGHTSHIP DUTY: ?; AGE: ?

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Coast Guard records show only that LV 99./WAL 522 was decommissioned May 4, 1956 and sold Nov 5, 1956

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1956; AGE: 35

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned May 24, 1956; sold Nov 5, 1956

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 99 / WAL 522