Dahlia, 1933
WAGL-288
Dahlia: a plant of the genus Dahlia, indigenous to Mexico and Central America, with tuberous roots and usually large, variously colored flowers.
Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Michigan
Length: 81' 2"
Beam: 21'
Draft: 9'
Displacement: 160 tons
Cost: $66,566
Commissioned: August, 1933
Decommissioned: 9 October 1964
Disposition: Sold
Machinery: 1 Winton diesel; 235 BHP; single propeller
Performance & Endurance:
Max: 10.0 knots
Cruising: 7.1 knots; 1,027 mile range
Deck Gear: 5.0 ton capacity boom; electric winch
Complement: 10
Armament: None
Tender History:
The United States Lighthouse Tender Dahlia was commissioned in August, 1933 and assigned to the 11th Lighthouse District out of Detroit, Michigan. She served out of Detroit for her entire career, servicing aids to navigation on the Detroit River and the St. Clair River.
After World War II she was re-engined with a GM diesel. On 20 April 1956 she assisted the vessels A. M. Byers and the E. M. Ford following their collision in St. Clair River Channel. On 5 October 1962 she assisted the vessels Richard V. Lindaberry and Hutchcliff Hall following their collision in the lower St. Clair River.
Dahlia was decommissioned on 9 October 1964 and was sold on 20 May 1965 to the government of Surinam, along with the tender Cherry.
Sources:
Douglas Peterson. United States Lighthouse Service Tenders, 1840-1939. Annapolis: Eastwind Publishing, 2000.
Robert Scheina. U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II. Annapolis: Eastwind Publishing, 1982.
Robert Scheina. U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990. Annapolis: Eastwind Publishing, 1990.