Diamond Shoals Lightship LV 71, US Coast Guard Files

This is the Diamond Shoals Lightship No. 71 a few months before being sunk by a German U-boat in World War I after it gave a radio warning that the U-boat U-104 was in the area. Built as a steam screw design, she had steel frame and topsides and a wood bottom with 2 masts with lantern galleries and a stack amidships. She was 122’ 10” long with a beam width of 28’ 6”, a draft of 13’ 6” and weighed 590 tons. One single cylinder steam-driven engine kept her on station during furious storms. One 4 bladed propeller 8’ in diameter separated her from the edge of danger and safety, built for a maximum speed of 8½ knots. The speed was unimportant since the engines were to keep her on station, not carry her from it. She was built in 1897 at the Bath Iron Works Ltd., Maine for $70,700 though $80,000 had been appropriated. Originally meant for Overfalls Shoal, Delaware Bay, LV 69 on Diamond Shoals needed repair, so LV 71 was placed there March 9, 1898 and then alternated with LV 69. LV 71 was destroyed by surface gunfire after the young master, Walter Barnett, and his crew were allowed to escape by lifeboat.

Did you serve on the Diamond Shoals Lightship or are you a direct descendant? Please fill out the Descendants Online Form and let us know when you served. Do you have memories/pictures to share? We want to hear from you!

There was a Diamond Shoals Lightship consistently stationed from 1894-1966. We are looking for crewmen during the years of the old Lighthouse Service until 1939. However, if you have stories to share and pictures, we invite you to join our efforts to preserve these. Fill out the Descendants On-line Questionnaire or email us at hattkeep@outer-banks.com. We look forward to hearing from you!