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Lighthouse Tender Photo Archive

USLHT Lilac



Call sign:
George - Vice - Nan - Pup

Call sign (1919):
Nan - Unit - Cast - Fox

Elma call sign (1931):
Mike - Fox - Sail - Jig

Lilac served both the Lighthouse Service and U. S. Navy

Lighthouse Tender:

  • The second Lilac was built in 1892 by Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, OH
  • Commissioned USLHT Lilac 3 August 1892
  • Transferred to the Navy by Executive Order of 11 April 1917
  • Returned to the Department of Commerce 1 July 1919
  • Laid up in 1920
  • Decommissioned 18 November 1924
  • Sold 3 March 1925
  • Sold 24 March 1931 to the Garlick Navigation Co. of Miami, FL for use as a freighter and renamed Elma
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 643 t.
    1931 - 432 t.
  • Length 155'
    1931 - 146.1'
  • Beam 26' 6"
  • Draft 15' 2"
    1931 - 12.3'
  • Complement 32
    1931 - 13
  • Propulsion: Two cylindrical single-ended coal-fired Scotch-type boilers, two compound inverted fore and aft 400hp steam engines, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Lilac 43k c. 1927
    U.S. Lighthouse Service photo    		 John Spivey
    View the Lilac
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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    This page created by Joseph M. Radigan and maintained by David Wright
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