United States lightship Swiftsure (LV-113)

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History
United States Lighthouse Service pennantUnited States Lighthouse Service
NameUSLHS LV-113 Swiftsure
BuilderAlbina Motor Works, Portland, Oregon
Cost$228,121
Launched1 July 1929
Fatetransferred to the United States Coast Guard, 1 July 1939
United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
NameUSCGC WAL-535
Acquired1 July 1939 (from U.S. Lighthouse Service)
Decommissioned1 October 1968
ReclassifiedUSS YP-397 during World War II
HomeportJuneau, Territory of Alaska
Identification
FateSunk while being towed, 16 June 1988
General characteristics
TypeLightship
Tonnage630 GRT[1]
Length133.25 ft (40.61 m) o/a[1]
Beam30 ft (9.1 m)[1]
Draught13.25 ft (4.04 m)[1]
Installed power350 bhp (260 kW)[1]
Propulsionone electric motor driven by four 75 kw diesel engines[1]
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)[1]
Complement48 (World War II)

United States lightship No. 113, known as Swiftsure, was a steel-hulled lightship in commission with the United States Lighthouse Service as LV-113 from 1929 to 1939, and in the fleet of the United States Coast Guard as WAL-535 from 1939 until 1968. During World War II, she was given the designation USS YP-397.

History[edit]

She was laid down at the Albina Motor Works in Portland, Oregon and launched on 1 July 1929.[1] She had two masts each capped with a 375mm electric lens lantern (15,000 cp) and a 4-way air diaphone fog horn.[1] During World War II, she was reassigned to the Alaskan Sea Frontier to serve as an examination vessel.[1][2] Designated as a Yard Patrol Craft YP-397, she was painted grey and armaments added: a 4"/50 caliber gun forward, two .50 caliber machine guns on either side of the bridge, one .30 caliber machine gun aft, and a Y gun with 17 depth charges.[2] She was assigned to the Icy Strait at the northern entrance to the Inside Passage between Cape Spencer on the Alaskan mainland to the north and Indian Head Light, on Chichagof Island to the south.[2] She remained on station continuously sending a launch for provisions at nearby ports.[2] In addition to confirming the identity of all ships trying to enter the Inside Passage, she assisted in assembling convoys that were en route to further points in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.[2] After the war, she returned to her post at Swiftsure Bank.[1]

On 1 October 1968, she was decommissioned and donated to the Sea Scouts.[1] In 1982, she sunk at Willamette Harbor but was later raised and repaired to serve as a floating restaurant in Newport, Oregon.[1] She was sold in 1988 and while being towed to Ketchikan, Alaska sunk in 590 feet of water on 16 June 1988.[1]

Assignments[edit]

  • 1930–1942 Swiftsure Bank (Washington)
  • 1942–1945 Examination vessel
  • 1945–1961 Swiftsure Bank
  • 1961 Umatilla Reef (Washington)
  • 1961–1968 Relief (Washington)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Flint, Willard (1989). Lightships and Lightship Stations of the U.S. Government. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gill, Jim. "The Warship Swiftsure". Coast Guard Stories. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020.
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