USNS Pecos at Rainier, Oregon, in Spring of 2004

Photo by Cliff West

The USNS Pecos T-AO-197 is the 11th member of the Henry J. Kaiser class of underway replenishment oilers operated by Military Sealift Command to support U.S. Navy ships. It is the third ship to be named after the Pecos River in New Mexico and Texas. The Pecos was built at Avondale Shipyard, Inc. in New Orleans, Louisiana, laid down on February 17, 1988, launched on September 23, 1989, and entered service on July 6, 1990. It is 677 feet long, 97 feet 5 inches wide, and has a maximum draft of 35 feet. It has a light displacement of 9,500 tons and can carry 31,200 tons, with a capacity of 178,000 to 180,000 barrels of fuel oil and jet fuel and 7,400 square feet of cargo space, and eight 20’ refrigerated containers with room for 128 pallets. Powered by two medium-speed Colt-Pielstick PC4-2/2 10V-570 engines driving two controllable-pitch propellers, it can reach a speed of 20 knots. It carries a crew complement of about 88, primarily civilian officers and merchant mariners. It is shown here on the Columbia River at Rainier, Oregon, in the Spring of 2004.

USNS Observation Island

The USNS Observation Island is a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship, used in the testing of U.S. missile systems, and to monitor other countries to ensure treaty compliance. It was originally launched in 1953 as the merchant ship Empire State Mariner and operated by the United States Lines for the Military Sea Transportation Service, before being transferred to the United States Navy for use in ballistic missile development in 1956 and renamed USS Observation Island, after an island in Florida's Lake Okeechobee. The Observation Island was the first naval ship to have a fully integrated Fleet Ballistic Missile System with the installation of the Polaris missile system in the late 1950s. Decommissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1972, the Observation Island was transferred to the Military Sealift Command in 1977 at the request of the United States Air Force Technical Applications Center for use as a tracking ship. Still owned by the U.S. Navy, its USNS prefix indicates that it is mostly crewed by civilians.

Ships on the Columbia River in 1994

These pictures were taken from Rainier, Oregon, in June of 1994. I don't have much to say about them as I can't positively identify most of the ships due to my cheap camera's inability to focus on them, but I am presenting them for completion.

The first ship is a United States Navy ship. It is hard to tell from the picture, but based on its size, I think it might be an Agile-class minesweeper. It was returning from a visit to Portland for the Rose Festival.

I can't identify this vessel, but I think it is part of the US Navy's Military Sealift Command fleet. Based on the cranes on the long, flat fantail, I think this might be a support vessel for submersibles. It was returning from a visit to Portland for the Rose Festival.

This vessel I am fairly confident is the United States Army Corps of Engineers dredge Yaquina. As a relatively common sight on the Columbia River, I am not sure if the Yaquina was visiting the Rose Festival, or just happened to be passing by.

In the foreground is a United States Coast Guard cutter that appears to be a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender, though I have no idea which one. In the background, being guided by a local tugboat, is a United States Navy ship that appears to be a Spruance-class guided missile cruiser. They were both returning from a visit to Portland for the Rose Festival.

There are no ships in this picture, just the Columbia River and the Longview Fibre paper mill in Longview, Washington, on the other side.

Here is a cargo ship that was more typical of the normal traffic on the Columbia River.

2009 Rose Festival Fleet: PT-658

I originally posted this on my old website on June 22, 2009.

PT-658 in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

PT-658 is a 78-foot Patrol Torpedo Boat, commonly called a PT-Boat. PT-boats were used in World War II against larger ships. With the ability to fire torpedoes, PT boats were capable of sinking the largest of the enemy's ships. Their small size and high speed made them difficult for large enemy ships to defend against; they often attacked at night, approaching the enemy without being detected, then quickly escaping after attacking. PT-boats were powered by three 1500 horsepower Packard V12 engines. A PT-Boat's 3,000 gallon fuel supply is enough to power the boat for 12 hours at a cruising speed of 35 knots, for a range of about 520 miles, or for six hours at the full speed of over 42 knots. (PT-658 is missing two of its tanks, cutting its fuel capacity in half.) Their wooden hulls allowed them to be built in large numbers without diverting steel from other critical uses, though it gave them little resistance to enemy fire. John F. Kennedy famously commanded PT-109 and later PT-59 during the war. After the war, most PT-boats were beached, stripped of equipment and burned, though some were sold as war surplus and found other uses, including conversation to pleasure boats.

PT-658 in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

PT-658 was built by Higgins Industries Boatworks of New Orleans, Louisiana. The keel was laid down on February 24, 1945, it was launched on April 11, 1945 and completed on July 30, 1945. As World War II was nearly over by that time, it was never put into the service it was built for, and was used as a rescue boat and later as a floating target until being sold as war surplus to a private owner on June 30, 1958. Save the PT Boat, Inc., a non-profit organization formed by a group of former PT-boat crewmen, acquired it in 1993 and has been restoring it since 1994. In the summer of 2004, PT-658 returned to the open water under her own power. It is the only authentic fully-restored US PT-boat in operational condition in the world.

PT-658 in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

Continue to Other Boats…

2009 Rose Festival Fleet: HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702) & HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)

I originally posted this on my old website on June 22, 2009.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

Canadian Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defense Vessels Nanaimo and Whitehorse, were built at the Halifax Shipyards in Nova Scotia.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

They are manned by the Canadian Naval Reserve, and patrol the Canadian coast.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

They have a top speed of over 15 knots with a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a crew complement of about 31.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

They are armed with a single 40mm cannon and two .50 caliber machine guns.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

They were designed as minesweepers, and are powered by Z-drive azimuth thruster pods that give them the ability to rotate 360 degrees within their own length.

HMCS Nanaimo & HMCS Whitehorse in Portland, Oregon

For more information, visit the Canadian Navy’s Maritime Coastal Defense Vessels page.

Continue to USCGC Henry Blake (WLM-563) & USCGC Bluebell (WLI-313)…

2009 Rose Festival Fleet: HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283)

I originally posted this on my old website on June 22, 2009.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The HMCS Algonquin is a Canadian Iroquois-class destroyer, the fourth ship of her class.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The Algonquin was built by Davie Shipbuilding of Lauzon, Quebec and was laid down on September 1, 1969, launched on April 23, 1971 and commissioned on November 2, 1973.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The Algonquin was refit as a guided missile destroyer on October 11, 1991.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The Algonquin is 425 feet long, has a top speed of over 29 knots with a range of about 4,500 nautical miles and carries various missiles, guns and torpedoes.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The Algonquin also carries two CH-124 Sea King helicopters.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

For more information, visit the official website of the Algonquin.

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

HMCS Algonquin in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

Continue to HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702) & HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)…

2009 Rose Festival Fleet: USS Shoup (DDG-86)

I originally posted this on my old website on June 22, 2009.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup is named for General David M. Shoup, the 22nd commandant of the Marine Corps.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup was laid down on December 13, 1999, launched on November 22, 2000 and commissioned on June 22, 2002 in Seattle, Washington.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup is 509 feet long, has a crew complement of about 380, has a top speed of over 30 knots with a range of about 4,400 nautical miles and carries various missiles, guns and torpedoes.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup also carries two SH-60 SeaHawk helicopters.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The USS Shoup was involved in the relief effort of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean and was a filming location for the 2007 film Transformers.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

For more information, visit the official website of the USS Shoup.

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

USS Shoup in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

Continue to HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283)…

2009 Rose Festival

I originally posted this on my old website on June 22, 2009.

(NOTE: This website is NOT affiliated with the Rose Festival; see www.rosefestival.org for current info)

Rose Festival Fleet in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

The next few posts feature pictures of the ships of Portland's 2009 Rose Festival Fleet, and the floats of the 2009 Grand Floral Parade, on display on the Portland Waterfront.

Rose Festival Fleet in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

It was kind of a small fleet as only one US Navy ship visited, however Portland was one of only four US ports to get a courtesy visit from a Navy ship in 2009, so it was an honor to get even one ship. In addition, three Canadian Navy ships and several US Coast Guard cutters also attended. The ships were open for tours in Portland from June 3-7, and departed on the 8th.

USS Shoup (DDG-86)
HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283)
HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702) & HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)
USCGC Henry Blake (WLM-563) & USCGC Bluebell (WLI-313)
USCGC Fir (WLB-213) & USCGC Tern (WPB-87343)
Sternwheeler Portland
PT-658
Other Boats
Grand Floral Parade Floats

Rose Festival Fleet in Portland, Oregon on June 7, 2009

2009 Rose Festival Links:
Rose Festival
United States Navy
USS Shoup
Canadian Navy
HMCS Algonquin
United States Coast Guard
USCGC Henry Blake
USCGC Bluebell
USCGC Fir
Oregon Maritime Center & Museum
Save the PT Boat, Inc.

Continue to USS Shoup (DDG-86)…

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

…Continued from Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park.

View from south end of Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

Beginning in 1967, the Oregon State Legislature, under the leadership of Governor Tom McCall, established policies to create a Willamette River Greenway along 120 miles of the Willamette River.

View from south end of Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

In 1968, Portland's Downtown Waterfront Plan recommended replacing Harbor Drive with a park, while the State Highway Department wanted to widen it. That year, the city of Portland acquired the former public market building, which had been vacant since the Oregon Journal moved out in 1961, and demolished it the following year to make room for a widened Harbor Drive.

View of the Marquam Bridge from the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 10, 2008

In 1969, vocal citizens began objecting to the plans to widen Harbor Drive, and Governor McCall became involved, encouraging the inclusion of citizens in the planning process and personally favoring the construction of a park along the waterfront. Portland Mayor Terry Schrunk and Multnomah County Chairman James Gleason also supported the plan to replace Harbor Drive with a park. There were concerns about the potential traffic problems removing Harbor Drive could cause, however the completion of Interstate 405 and the Fremont Bridge on November 11, 1973 provided enough new capacity that Front Avenue could handle the remaining traffic.

View of the Marquam Bridge from the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

Harbor Drive was closed in 1974, and Waterfront Park opened along a mile and a half of Portland waterfront in 1978. In 1984, the Portland City Council named the park in honor of Governor Tom McCall for his role in creating it.

View of the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry & U.S.S. Blueback from south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

Originally the park only extended as far south as the Hawthorne Bridge, but it was since been extended south to the Marquam Bridge.

View of the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry & U.S.S. Blueback from south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

These pictures show views from the southern end of the park.

View of the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry & U.S.S. Blueback from south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

Also visible from the south end of the park is the former U.S. Navy submarine U.S.S. Blueback at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Monument to Canadian emissaries who sheltered Americans in Iran at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

This monument to Canadian emissaries who sheltered Americans in Iran seems to be the first placed here after the Waterfront Park was built.

Monument to Canadian emissaries who sheltered Americans in Iran at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on September 7, 2008

It reads: "On January 28, 1980, Canadian emissaries in Iran risked their lives by sheltering six Americans who were outside of the American embassy during the time of seizure. We, the people of the city of Portland, honor Canada for offering sanctuary to the Americans. Canada's noble act in bringing the Americans home calls forth our profound gratitude and appreciation."

Continue to Oregon Maritime Center & Museum…