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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

Lake Erie (SP 2190)


Freighter:

  • The first Lake Erie was built in 1917 as War Beaver by the Detroit Shipbuilding Co, Wyandotte, MI
  • Launched 22 September 1917
  • Renamed Lake Erie prior to completion
  • Acquired by the Navy 31 December 1917
  • Commissioned USS Lake Erie (SP 2190), 17 January 1918
  • Collided 16 January 1919 with the SS Hazel Branch off Lavernock, Wales and sank 5 miles from Cardiff, Wales. Struck from the Navy Register the same day
  • Raised in August 1919 and sold in November 1919 to Th. Brovig Farsund, Norway and renamed Gezina
  • Sold to A/S Erling Mortensen Oslo, Norway in 1946 and renamed Ragni
  • Sold to Pedersen & Berge Kristiansund, Norway in 1956 and renamed Arpeco
  • Sold to M. Clausen Haugesund, Norway in 1958 and renamed Force
  • Broken up for scrap at Grimstad, Norway in 1959.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 4,300 t.
  • Length 261'
  • Beam 43' 6"
  • Draft 17' 10½"
  • Speed 10 kts.
  • Complement 67
  • Armament: One 5"/50 and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Two single ended boilers, one 1,260hp verticle triple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image
    Size Image Description Source
    Lake Erie 34k Photographed while under construction Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
    Lake Erie 70k Photographed at about the time she was completed
    U.S. Navy photo NH 101997
    Naval Historical Center
    Lake Erie 67k Photographed in an icy port, circa late 1917
    U.S. Navy photo NH 101998

    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR Thor C. Sorensen, USNRF (Later USN) - Awarded three Legions of Merit (1943/1944/1945)
    Retired as Captain
    17 January 1918
    Courtesy Joe Radigan

    View the Lake Erie (ID 2190)
    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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