Thursday, September 3, 2015

World War I Lightship Sunk By U-boat Off North Carolina-- Part 1

I wrote about this ship in yesterday's Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.  For more information, see that.

From Wikipedia.

DIAMOND SHOAL LIGHTSHIP NO. 71 (LV-71).

It was built in 1897 by the Bath Ironworks in Bath, Maine and had a wooden hull, steel keel and braces.  Its lights were clusters of three 100 cp electric lens lanterns mounted on each of its two mastheads.  In addition, it had a 12-inch steam chime whistle and a 1000 pound hand-operated fog bell.  All the better to warn you.

It was 128-feet long with a 28-foot beam weighing 590 tons capable of cruising at 8.5 miles per hour.  In 1904, iy was equipped with telegraph and in 1915, an 18-inch searchlight.

Originally intended for Overfall Shoal in Delaware, iy ended up assigned as the Diamong Shoal Light near Hatteras, North Carolina. on March 9, 1898.

It alternated station with the LV-69 and in 1912 was fitted with a two-way radio.

--DaCootLight


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