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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USED Dredge Lake Fairfax

Self Propelled Dredge:

Built in 1919 as the USSB design 1099 cargo ship Lake Fairfax by American Ship Building Co., Detroit, MI.

Launched, in 1919

Delivered to the United States Shipping Board in November 1919

Acquired by the US Army in 1932, converted to a suction dredge by Ellicott Machine Corp., Baltimore, MD. for flood control projects on the Mississippi River

Christened and placed in service as USED Dredge Lake Fairfax in 1932

Retired from US Army service in 1940

Returned to cargo service as SS Bayou for the Bayou SS Corp (Smith & Johnson, New Orleans)

Registered in Panama in 1941, Sud Americano de Vapores SA, Panama

Final Disposition, At 07.45 hours, 28 February 1942 the unescorted Bayou was hit forward by one G7a torpedo from U-129 and sank within 25 seconds about 140 miles north of Paramaribo. The U-boat had chased the ship for 18 hours and missed with a first G7a torpedo because it was a surface runner at 04.06 hours. The Germans observed a man on a raft at the sinking position but left without questioning him. At noon on 5 March, the only survivor was rescued in 07°36N/58°05W and taken to Georgetown

Specifications:
Displacement 3600 t.
Length 261'
Beam unknown
Draft unknown
Speed unknown

Accommodations unknown

Machinery

two Ellicott Machine Corp pumping engines

Propulsion, steam

single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
302616601	122k	USED Lake Fairfax's two pumping engines built by Ellicot Machine Corp. in a warehouse, circa 1931-32. Office of History HQ U.S. Army Corp of Engineers	John Spivery
302616602	41k	USED Lake Fairfax dredging in Whiskey Bay, Atchafalaya Basin in 1933 Defense Information Center - Designing the Bayous The Control of Water in the Atchafayala Basin 1800-1995	John Spivery
302616606	68k	USED Lake Fairfax foc'sle, 1935. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616607	53k	USED Lake Fairfax foredeck looking aft, 1935. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616608	41k	USED Lake Fairfax pilothouse, 1935. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616603	62k	USED Lake Fairfax well deck 1935. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616605	36k	USED Lake Fairfax boat deck, starboard side, 1935 US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616609	53k	USED Lake Fairfax pipe connection, 1935. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616610	71k	USED Lake Fairfax pontoon piping, 2 November 1935, impound dredging near Helena, AR., Jackson Point, Sunflower cut offs, Mississippi River. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616611	71k	USED Lake Fairfax portside dredge, 2 November 1935, impound dredging near Helena, AR., Jackson Point, Sunflower cut offs, Mississippi River. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616612	59k	USED Lake Fairfax dredge aft, 2 November 1935, impound dredging near Helena, AR., Jackson Point, Sunflower cut offs, Mississippi River. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616613	71k	USED Lake Fairfax dredge forward, 2 November 1935, impound dredging near Helena, AR., Jackson Point, Sunflower cut offs, Mississippi River. US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library
302616604	74k	USED Lake Fairfax dredging at Rifle Point, Concordia Parish LA., on the Mississippi River, 2 November 1935 US Army Corp of Engineers Digital Library