WLV-196

1961-1971: WLV-196

YEAR BUILT: 1946

BUILT AT: Bay City (MI)

APPROPRIATION: ?

BUILDER: Defoe Shipbuilding Co

CONTRACT PRICE: ?

SISTER VESSELS: WLV 189

DESIGN: Diesel propelled; steel hull and deckhouses; breakwater on foredeck; 2 masts, stack amidships

LENGTH: 128'0" (loa); BEAM: 30'0"; DRAFT: 11'0"; TONNAGE: 630 displ (apprx)

PROPULSION: Diesel - one GM 6-278A 6 cyl, clutch reversing; reduction gearing; closed system fresh water cooling; 500 SHP @ 250 RPM

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Duplex 500mm electric lens lantern on foremast only;
15,000cp each light, 57 feet above water

FOG SIGNAL: Twin F2T diaphones aft of pilot house; hand operated bell


CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: WLV 196-

Used all-welded construction; high degree of watertight integrity maintained by transverse bulkheads carried to weather duck level hawsepipes carried to weather deck before leading to chain locker; alternating current electrical system throughout; designated WAL 196 when built, then changed to WLV in 1965-
Built specifically for Pollock Rip station-
Launched Oct 16, 1946; commissioned Nov 1946; placed. on Pollock Rip 1947-
1958: Single electric lens lanterns installed on each mast-
1961: High intensity light installed on mainmast; used 24 locomotive headlights mounted in groups of 6 on each face of 4 sided revolving lamp housing; original lens lantern retained on foremast-
Radio/visual call sign NMJH (1946-1971)

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: WLV 196
1947-1958: Pollock Rip (MA)
1958-1960: Nantucket Shoals (MA)
1961-1971: Umatilla Reef (WA)

(1958-1960: WLV was designated (and marked) Relief during most of this period while LV 112/ WAL 534 was undergoing extensive overhaul and modification)

HISTORICAL NOTES: WLV 196-
1961 Oct Departed from Curtis Bay MD making the voyage to Seattle WA via Panama Canal with stops at Miami, Kingston, Rodman CZ, Acapulco, San Francisco, and Coos Bay. Voyage commander Lt John C Wirtz then turned vessel over to the regular GO, CWO Herman Schmidt and placed on Umatilla Reef station

More notes:

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1971; AGE: 25

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Decommissioned Sep 30, 1971; reported to be at Seattle in 1980

COMMANDING OFFICERS: WLV 196

1946-1949: BMC Leon Singer, OIC
1947-1958: CWO Guy V Emro, CO
1960-1961: CWO Herman Schmidt, CO  (1961: Lt John C Wirtz was the voyage commander during the lightship's cruise from Curtis Bay to Seattle in 1961; he returned command to CWO Schmidt at the end of the voyage)
 

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Revised: 10/23/06.