USLHT Anemone
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- USLHT Anemone (1908–1917; 1919–1939)
- USS Anemone (1917–1919)
- USCGC Anemone (1939–1946)
- United States Lighthouse Service (1908–1917; 1919–1939)
- United States Navy (1917–1919)
- United States Coast Guard (1939–1946)
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name |
|
| Operator |
|
| Builder | New York Shipbuilding Company |
| Launched | 13 June 1908 |
| Commissioned | 25 July 1908 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Transferred to the Philippines |
 Philippines | |
| Name | Anemone |
| Operator | Philippine Naval Patrol |
| Acquired | 1947 |
| Fate | unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Manzanita-class tender |
| Length | 190 feet (58 m) |
| Beam | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Depth | 13.25 feet (4.04 m) |
| Installed power | 2 x triple-expansion steam engines, 1,100 SHP |
| Propulsion | 2 propellers |
| Speed | 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h) |
USLHT Anemome was a steel-hulled lighthouse tender built for the United States Lighthouse Service in 1908. She was one of the eight Manzanita-class tenders. Throughout her career in U.S. government service she supplied lightships and lighthouses, and maintained buoys and other navigational aids in her area. She was initially based in Detroit, but after 1910 was assigned to Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
While her work was consistent throughout her career, Anemone was directed by a number of different U.S. government organizations. During World War I, she was commissioned in the U.S. Navy, before being returned to the Lighthouse Service in 1919. In 1939 the Lighthouse Service was abolished, and Anemone became part of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was placed under Navy control in World War II, and Anemone was armed. In the demobilization which followed the end of the war, Anemone was transferred to the government of the Philippines along with three other Manzanita-class tenders.
Anemone was refit to carry important political figures among the islands of the Philippines, and indeed the first two presidents of the country cruised aboard her. She also delivered relief supplies to areas affected by natural disasters. Her final disposition is unknown.
Anemone was originally conceived by the Lighthouse Board as a second tender for the inspector of the 11th Lighthouse District, who was responsible for maintaining aids to navigation on Lake Superior and Lake Huron.[1] The growth in the number of buoys and lighthouses in the district exceeded the capacity of USLHT Marigold, the only tender in the district.[2][3]
Construction was funded by two Congressional appropriations, one for $50,000 approved on 28 April 1904,[4] and a second for $90,000 approved on 3 March 1905.[5] According to newspaper reports at the time, this funding was pushed through Congress by local Duluth and Superior shipping interests and the associated Minnesota and Wisconsin congressional delegations.[6] Proposals for a single-screw Anemone were solicited in June 1906.[7] When the bids were opened in July 1906, they were rejected, as they all exceeded the $140,000 authorized for the tender.[8] The Lighthouse Board then packaged Anemone with other acquisition programs and solicited proposals for eight new lighthouse tenders in March 1907.[9] On 1 May 1907 sealed bids were opened in Washington, D.C. Four companies bid for the contract. New York Shipbuilding Company of Camden, New Jersey was the lowest at $164,000 for each of the eight ships.[10] This bid was accepted. The eight ships produced under this contract became known as the Manzanita class.
Anemone was built of steel plates riveted together. She was 190 feet (58 m) long, with a beam of 30 feet (9.1 m), and a depth of hold of 16 feet (4.9 m). The ship's loaded draft was 13 feet (4.0 m). Her light displacement was 803 tons, and her full-load displacement was 1,053 tons.[11]
She had two bronze propellers which were 7.5 feet (2.3 m) in diameter. These were driven by two triple-expansion steam engines. Their high-pressure cylinders had a diameter of 12 inches, the intermediate pressure cylinders 19 inches, and the low pressure cylinders 32 inches, with a common stroke of 24 inches.[12] Steam was provided by two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers that burned coal. The engines were each capable of producing 550 shaft horsepower[13] and drove the ship at 12.5 knots.[14]
She was assigned the signal letters GVRH in 1909.[15] In 1933 this was changed to WWCD.[16] When Anemone was commissioned into the Coast Guard, her call sign changed again, this time to NRWC.[17] She had a wireless telegraphy station aboard by 1919 with the call sign NABP,[18] which was changed in 1924 to WWCD.[19] In 1923 the ship had radio direction finding equipment, or "radio compass" equipment installed.[20]
Anemone's keel was laid on 12 November 1907, she was launched on 13 June 1908, and was delivered to the Lighthouse Service on 25 July 1908.[13] The Lighthouse Service calculated her original cost at $191,999.[11]
In 1920 the tender was manned by 7 officers and 26 crewmen.[21]
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