YC-286
1914-1952
(YC-286: capacity 500; length 110'; beam 34'0")
The non self propelled steel hull open lighter YC-286 was completed by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va., in 1914.
Placed in service in the Fifth Naval District, YC-286 served in those waters through World War I. Although earmarked for replacement in 1939, the lighter remained in service as the Navy expanded to meet the challenges posed by increasing global tensions during the interwar years..
The Navy’s annual report for 1941 indicates that YC-286 was in use for 220 days, and was considered serviceable, with its upkeep amounting to $1,378.04. The annual report for 1942 listed it as in “fair” condition. Two years after the end of World War II in Europe, YC-286 began a five-month overhaul (28 March-25 August 1947) at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, a period of work that lengthened its service life, but only for a little over four years, as successive inspections during 1951-1952 found the craft declining from satisfactory to fair to unsatisfactory condition by 25 June 1952.
On 19 August 1952, the office of the Chief of Naval Operations requested authority from the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav) to dispose of YC-286, and approval of that course of action soon followed, with SecNav approving its disposal less than a fortnight later, on 27 August.
YC-286 was stricken from the Navy’s List of Service Craft on 8 September 1952.
Robert J. Cressman
5/30/2013
