USC&GS Lydonia (CS 302)
Encyclopedia
USC&GS Lydonia was a survey ship that served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in from 1919 to 1947.
Lydonia was built in 1912 by Pusey and Jones
at Wilmington, Delaware
, as a private yacht for William A. Lydon. From 1917 to 1919, she served in the United States Navy
as the patrol vessel USS Lydonia (SP-700)
.
, on 7 August 1919 and became USC&GS Lydonia (CS 302). She served primarily along the United States East Coast and in the Atlantic Ocean while with the Survey, but did see service in the Pacific Ocean early in her career.
On several occasions during her long career, Lydonia assisted mariners in distress. On 7 August 1921, she assisted in helping survivors and searching for bodies in the wreck of the steamboat SS Alaska on Blunt's Reef off the coast of northern California. On 17 January 1927, she came to the aid of the United States Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Modoc (WPG-46)
, which was aground at the entrance to the Cape Fear River
in North Carolina, joining a tug
in refloating Modoc at high tide. In May 1927, she and the survey ship USC&GS Hydrographer
were sent to Memphis, Tennessee
, to help victims of the great Mississippi River flood of that year.
On 23 August 1933, she was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey survey ships USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS-26)
and USC&GS Gilbert
at Norfolk, Virginia, when the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane struck; the three ships handled considerable radio traffic for the Norfolk area, including U.S. Navy traffic, during the storm. On 24 April 1935, she directed the United States Coast Guard to the fishing trawler Malolo, which was disabled off the coast of Virginia. And in January 1937, Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel from her crew and from that of Oceanographer were detached to join three Coast and Geodetic Survey launches
at Kenova, West Virginia
, where they performed flood relief work under the direction of the Red Cross.
Lydonia was retired from Coast and Geodetic Survey service in 1947.
Lydonia was built in 1912 by Pusey and Jones
Pusey and Jones
The Pusey and Jones Corporation was a major ship and equipment manufacturer from 1846 to 1959. Ship building was the primary focus from 1853 until the end of World War II, when the company converted the shipyard to production of paper manufacturing machinery...
at Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, as a private yacht for William A. Lydon. From 1917 to 1919, she served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as the patrol vessel USS Lydonia (SP-700)
USS Lydonia (SP-700)
USS Lydonia was a 497 gross ton yacht acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was outfitted as a patrol craft and spent most of the war based out of Gibraltar, escorting and protecting Allied ships in the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Europe. Post-war she was ...
.
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey service
Lydonia was transferred to the Coast and Geodetic Survey at Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, on 7 August 1919 and became USC&GS Lydonia (CS 302). She served primarily along the United States East Coast and in the Atlantic Ocean while with the Survey, but did see service in the Pacific Ocean early in her career.
On several occasions during her long career, Lydonia assisted mariners in distress. On 7 August 1921, she assisted in helping survivors and searching for bodies in the wreck of the steamboat SS Alaska on Blunt's Reef off the coast of northern California. On 17 January 1927, she came to the aid of the United States Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Modoc (WPG-46)
USCGC Modoc (WPG-46)
USCGC Modoc was a 240-foot Tampa class United States Coast Guard cutter designed for multi-mission roles. She had a top speed of sixteen knots, and was armed with a pair of 5-inch deck guns. With the breakout of war it was armed with depth charges, additional guns, sonar, and radar and...
, which was aground at the entrance to the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
in North Carolina, joining a tug
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
in refloating Modoc at high tide. In May 1927, she and the survey ship USC&GS Hydrographer
USC&GS Hydrographer (1901)
The first USC&GS Pioneer was a survey launch that served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1901 to 1917 and from 1919 to 1928.-Construction and acquisition:...
were sent to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, to help victims of the great Mississippi River flood of that year.
On 23 August 1933, she was with the Coast and Geodetic Survey survey ships USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS-26)
USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS-26)
The first USC&GS Oceanographer was a survey ship that served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1930 to 1942.-Construction and early career, 1899-1930:...
and USC&GS Gilbert
USC&GS Gilbert
USC&GS Gilbert was a launch that served as a survey ship in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1930 to 1962.Gilbert was built by Latham D. Smith at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1929...
at Norfolk, Virginia, when the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane struck; the three ships handled considerable radio traffic for the Norfolk area, including U.S. Navy traffic, during the storm. On 24 April 1935, she directed the United States Coast Guard to the fishing trawler Malolo, which was disabled off the coast of Virginia. And in January 1937, Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel from her crew and from that of Oceanographer were detached to join three Coast and Geodetic Survey launches
Launch (boat)
A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...
at Kenova, West Virginia
Kenova, West Virginia
Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The name of the town comes from its unique position where the borders of Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia meet. Founded in 1859 but not incorporated until 1894, the town's early history and...
, where they performed flood relief work under the direction of the Red Cross.
Lydonia was retired from Coast and Geodetic Survey service in 1947.