Sailor writes: BETSY ROSS ADVENTURE CRUISE 2006:
Embarking in Mexico and disembarking
in Richards Bay, South Africa.
Set sail on this historical ship for the duration of the three month cruise
or part of it. She will also take cargo on this trip.
History of the Betsy Ross
Formerly called F.S. 313 the ship was built in Camden, New Jersey in 1944. The
armament was twin 50 caliber machine guns on Port and Starboard flying bridge
turrets. A forty MM Gun on the Aft boat deck turret.
The U S Coast Guard sailed
it from the East Coast to Wilmington California, arriving late October 1944.
The Army Class 'A' Boat Crew from 363 H/C Co. Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida arrived,
via railroad transport, at Wilmington California on 19 October 1944. They took
command of the ship, and with guns installed and provisions and fuel on board
they took a short shakedown cruise.
The ship departed Wilmington, on 25 November
1944 in convoy with 5 other Coast Guard F.S. boats for Honolulu, Hawaii. (about
nine days en route). With cargo on board they sailed to Oahu Island in Hawaii.
The ship departed (alone) from Honolulu, with provisions and cargo and went to
Saipan Island, in the Marriannas Group, via Eniwetok Island, arriving 31
December 1944.
They navigated with a compass and sextant. There were no other
aids on board except for a Radio Direction Finder. No radio frequencies were
sent out in War time conditions.
On New Years eve, their night approach created
an alert on Eniwetok Island and a U.S. Destroyer put 2 shots across the bow
before they could identify who they were. The F.S. 313 crew would rig out the
cargo booms and then a Navy Seabee or Army Port Battalion handled the cargo
which was various Air Force supplies or 1# packages of underwater explosive,
which was used to blow out the sunken ships blocking harbour entrances, so that
larger ships could get in to the docks.
The F.S. 313 draft : Empty 4ft in the Bow and 9ft aft.
Full load to the Plimsol Line : 9ft in the Bow and 11ft Aft.
Its top speed was 9 knots.
This draft allowed the ship to sail over the top of
the sunken ships right up to the docks.
On January 1st, 1946 the crew celebrated
New Years at Guam tied to a buoy in the outer harbour.
On March 15th, 1946 the
ship departed Saipan for Oahu, Hawaii via Johnston Island for Honolulu. New
cargo was taken on at Honolulu, then the ship departed for San Francisco,
U.S.A.. First day out, the sea was extremely rough from a Tidal wave hitting
Hawaii. It arrived in San Francisco April 9, 1946.
The Besty Ross continued to
work these waters during the war. After the war it was used as a training ship
for the US Navy. The National Guard installed roll chocks on the Hull, and slave
rudders, which gave her a bit more speed and helped to stabilize the dipping of
her decks through better steering response. Her speed increased to 12 Knots.
Contact details and for further information: Email :-
info@betsyrosscruises.com
Website: www.betsyrosscruises.com
