Topic: IX-64 U.S.S. Wolverine- paddlewheel aircraft carrier

[J. Carney]

This ship (and here sister-ship the IX-81 U.S.S Sable) were mentioned in Chris SI's Warbirds post about the Dauntless... interesting as sidenotes, if only because they existed.

And paddle-wheel carriers on the Graet Lakes? Con you give me the names andhull numbers ofthose, Chris- that would be something supremely interesting to read.

There were two of them...one was the USS Wolverine (IX-64) and the other was USS Sable (IX-81)

IX-64 U.S.S. Wolverine (ex-S.S Seeandbee) underway in Chicago harbor, 22 August 1942


And in happier times, the S.S Seeandbee


from: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, Vol. VIII, p. 422-23.

Wolverine

An American mammal found mostly in the northern United States. The state of Michigan is known as the "Wolverine State."

Specifications:
Displacement 7,200 t.
Length 500'
Beam 98'
Draft 15' 6"
Speed 28 kts.
Complement 270
Armament none
Propulsion 4 coal fired boilers, compound reciprocating engines, 2 sidewheels, 8000 hp

The second Wolverine (IX-64)-a side-wheel excursion steamer built in 1913-was originally named Seeandbee, a euphonious name based upon her owners' company name-the Cleveland and Buffalo Transit Co. She was constructed by the American Shipbui lding Co. of Wyandotte, Mich. The Navy acquired the side-wheeler on 12 March 1942 and designated her an unclassified miscellaneous auxiliary, IX-64.

Conversion to a training aircraft carrier began on 6 May 1942; and the name Wolverine, commemorating the first ship of the name, was approved on 2 August. Wolverine was commissioned at Buffalo, N.Y., on 12 August 1942, Comdr. George R. Fairlamb in command.

As the Navy's first side-wheeled aircraft carrier, Wolverine was equipped to handle plane take-offs and landings, a vital duty that she performed for the duration of World War II. She contributed to the winning war effort in World War II by training hundreds of pilots in basic carrier operations. During an inspection conducted by the admiral on 27 October 1942, she briefly flew the four-starred flag of the Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Ernest J . King.

Her task completed and the war over in the summer of 1946, Wolverine was decommissioned on 7 November 1945 and struck from the Navy list on 28 November. The ship was transferred to the War Shipping Administration on 26 November 1947 and sold later that same year for scrapping.

[Chris SI]

These ships are all but forgotten today, but they were vital, the USN had no carriers to spare for training new aircrews, these two had to do the job.

[J. Carney]

These ships are all but forgotten today, but they were vital, the USN had no carriers to spare for training new aircrews, these two had to do the job.

Yep- even mundane training duty is of great importance. Without it, no man is prepared for combat.

[The Postman]

These ships were converted because they already existed on the great lakes. The USN wanted all carrier pilots trained in the great lakes so that the carriers would not be vulnerable to enemy (submarine) attack. This left escorts and frontline carriers free for combat.

http://www.vc-35andvaaw-35.org/stories/paddlewheelers.html

[Clark Kent]

Very cool post man.  I've never seen anyone post info like this on a forum or email list, and it's grea tinfo to know.  I knew next to nothing of the paddlewheel carriers, except that they existed on the great lakes for training pilots during WWII.
Thanks

[J. Carney]

Cool story link, Postman- sounds like NOONE that made a landing on those teaching carriers could forget the experience even if he wanted to!

[Ravok]

 Great post J. I really had no idea.

[J. Carney]

Great post J. I really had no idea.

Neither did I, till they were mentioned in Chris's thread, and kmelew actually knew about them and did the legwork. I just cut'n'pasted it.

I'll try and find some more 'forgotten' ships like the Great Lakes carriers, though, and post them.

[kmelew]

I'll try and find some more 'forgotten' ships like the Great Lakes carriers, though, and post them.

You might want to research the USS Patoka.

The Navy's only rigid airship tender--provided support for the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) and USS Akron (ZRS-4).

[J. Carney]

I'll try and find some more 'forgotten' ships like the Great Lakes carriers, though, and post them.

You might want to research the USS Patoka.

The Navy's only rigid airship tender--provided support for the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) and USS Akron (ZRS-4).

Man, you are just full of ideas on this one, aren't you. I'll try that one tomorrow after class!

[Ravok]

I'll try and find some more 'forgotten' ships like the Great Lakes carriers, though, and post them.

You might want to research the USS Patoka.

The Navy's only rigid airship tender--provided support for the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) and USS Akron (ZRS-4).

 Another good one!! Thanks kmelew Can you imagine trying to dock a blimp, in rolling seas and with the wind blowing?

 

[kmelew]

I'll try and find some more 'forgotten' ships like the Great Lakes carriers, though, and post them.

You might want to research the USS Patoka.

The Navy's only rigid airship tender--provided support for the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) and USS Akron (ZRS-4).

 Another good one!! Thanks kmelew Can you imagine trying to dock a blimp, in rolling seas and with the wind blowing?

 

If you notice the superstructure of the Patoka, the mooring mast was the tallest structure--everything else was cut down.  This allowed a moored airship to swing with the wind.

BTW the Akron and her sister USS Macon (ZRS-5) were the largest aircraft ever built by the US--almost 800' long!

The Akron and Macon were unique in that they were "flying aircraft carriers,"  each carried five small biplanes in their hulls for scouting.  They were launched and retrieved via a trapeze-like mechanism.

[J. Carney]

Guess that it is the Akron, the Shenandoah and the Patoka, with a passing mention of the Los Angeles for tomorrow.

[Just plain old Punisher]

I wonder how they managed enough speed into the wind to launch aircraft.

[J. Carney]

I wonder how they managed enough speed into the wind to launch aircraft.

They made 28 knots, and the takeoff speed of the old prop-jobs wasn't all that high- stall speed on a Wildcat was on the order of 80 knots. The planes that they were training on just didn't have to get too fast.

Lotsa cars with 500 horses can get 90 mph in 500 feet, and those plnes had a lot more than 500 hp.