World of Lighthouses

Photo from US Coast Guard site
"UMATILLA - Lightship #68, Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company."; 9 May 1942; no photo number; Official US Navy photo.
The LS-88 in 1942 after having armament added for service during World War II. Note the 3"/23 caliber main battery forward, the "Y" gun depth charge projector on her stern as well as the three anti-aircraft weapons (20mm??) under tarps, one on the flying bridge and two on the raised stern deckhouse. The Navy eventually added a SO-1 radar as well. According to Robert Scheina, the LS-88 "Pre-WWII served as Umatilla Reef LS; 1942 - 45 assigned to NOWESTSEAFRON - stationed at Seattle, WA, and served as examination ship." (U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II, Annapolis, NIP, p. 160).
Decommissioned Nov 23, 1960; sold to scrap yard Jul 25, 1962; then became floating exhibit at Columbia River Maritime Museum 1963-1979 then sold. Plans for floating restaurant failed then sold in 1982 to Claude Lacerte, converted to half brigantine BELLE BLONDE, to Quebec 1984 for charter use. Survived a hurricane in 1985 with the loss of one crewman swept overboard. The vessels then sailed back to the Caribbean where it was used for 7 day cruises around the islands. It was then sold and delivered to Japan in 1988.