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132k |
Sea Otter (IX-53) under construction, 20 August 1941. Note the austere building ways, the absence of a raked addition to the
bow, and the presence of a second level on the superstructure. Workers appear to be painting the hull including the entire bow.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NR&L(M) 25871. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
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155k |
Sea Otter II (IX-53) under construction in a photo bearing the date 18 August 1941. The relationship between this photo and
the other construction photo is not clear. The basic hull is the same, but it is on a different building ways, has the raked addition to the bow, and lacks the second
superstructure level in the photo dated 20 August. The bow lacks paint while the rest of the hull is painted. The shed under the building ways has a sign showing the
builder's number for Sea Otter II, Hull 215.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NR&L(M) 25870. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
 |
99k |
Sea Otter (IX-53) stern view during trials, probably at Orange, Texas, in October 1941. The rudder had no protection
except for a heavy pipe guard at deck level. Steering cables ran on deck and then above the pipe guard to a crosshead at the top of the rudder. The name in small
letters on the stern and on the life rings was rendered "Sea Otter No. 2."
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NR&L(M) 25865. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
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147k |
Sea Otter (IX-53) alongside a pier during trials, probably at Orange, Texas, in October 1941.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NR&L(M) 25868. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
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135k |
View of the bridge structure of Sea Otter (IX-53) during trials, probably at Orange, TX., in October 1941.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NR&L(M) 25869. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
 |
110k |
Sea Otter (IX-53) running trials, probably at Orange, Texas, in October 1941. The ship ran more trials in Charleston, S.C.,
in November and this series of photos might have been taken there.
US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NR&L(M) 25867. Courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Mike Green |
 |
465k |
Sea Otter (IX-53) backing out into the Sabine River with two tugs assisting. She is probably still in Levingston’s hands as men on deck are in civilian working clothes. As reported by an ex-employee of Levingston's in 1941. when they fired up all sixteen GM 6-71 main propulsion engines geared to two quad reduction gear boxes (the same used in all LCI’s) the roar could be heard for miles and it was almost impossible to carry a normal conversation on deck. The GM 6-71s also drove the two generators, a total of 18 engines. |
James Swank |
094605308 |
58k |
Model of USS Sea Otter (IX-53) probably representing an early concept of this vessel. The bow and stern configurations resemble the ship
as built, but the superstructure is completely different. Note the steering chains on deck and the single lifeline running down the centerline. The small hatch openings are barely
visible.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NR&L(M) 25861 |
Robert Hurst |
