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Report - - LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales - Aug 2014 | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales - Aug 2014

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The Kwan

28DL Regular User
Regular User
I visited this lovely ship with Lenston, Res0nanc3, Extreme Ironing and The Raw as part of a weekend of UE and camping, I was so pleased to see this lightship and cannot thank Lenston enough for arranging the weekend, it was a shame that we couldnt get into the lower decks and engine room but it was too silted up and was a bit iffey without waders and a safety line.

History: snaffled from Res0nanc3

LV72 was built for the Trinity House Lighthouse and Lightvessel Authority in 1903, using the same hull plate and rivet construction made famous by the Titanic. She saw service in a variety of different stations from 1903 until the Second World War, where in 1944 she played a major role in Operation Overlord - otherwise known as the D-Day Landings in Normandy. Carrying the name 'JUNO',she marked a safe passage through a minefield for the landing craft on route to the invasion beaches.
She remained on station in Normandy until 27 January 1945 when she was towed to Le Havre for repairs following various collisions and heavy seas. She was replaced the following year in service by the LE HARVE and was towed to Harwich. Between 1945 and 1949 she saw active service at Smith Knoll Station, at Varne Station until 1952, and at various English and Welsh Grounds stations until 1954. On November 30 1954 her chain broke and she drifted from her station.
The end of her active service was seen in 1972 when she was laid up in Swansea and sold to the Steel Supply Company in Neath for scrap the following year. When sold, she was the oldest vessel in the Trinity House fleet at 70 years. She was used as a company office for a time and later considered for conversion into a floating nightclub, but this plan was never followed through. She is now moored in a mud berth at Neath Abbey Wharf near to the swing bridge, and left to herself. The hull is in very poor condition and absorbs water with every swell of the river.
This iron ship is an especially important example in Lightvessel history, being the only remaining example of a lightvessel carrying both oil powered and electric powered mechanisms.
A truly sad end to a long life of active service at sea.

some stats for the ship
Length: 116 feet (ca. 35,36 m)

Beam: 24 feet (ca. 7,20 m)
Draught: 15 feet (ca. 4,50 m)
Displacement: 257 t
Authority: Trinity House, London
Year of construction: 1903

Builder: John Crown & Sons, Sunderland

Material: steel

Optic: Catoptric, 9-2W oil lamps
Fog horn : Siren, powered by 2 - 15 hp Hornsby Oil engines, driving air pumps, after conversion "F" Diaphone with 4 - 5 mile range
Anchor: mushroom anchor

Some of my images



This is what you see as you walk onto the wharf, Extreme ironing was down there like a shot

36899633146_8e325816cf_c.jpg


And at the forward end you can see the lower hull construction
36899635116_2282f1dd85_c.jpg



This is where the light was situated, still in reasonable nick
36899633376_8e325816cf_c.jpg


and inside the tower it was full of water and fauna
36252849934_a4c3805272_b.jpg


The view from the top of the shop
36252850444_0e144c8ae7_c.jpg


This heavy duty windlass combined anchor winch looked in remarkably good condition for its 109 years

36946641231_c5cbfac205_c.jpg


An anchor that I think was used for more permanent or prolonged service stays
36252851164_9d2aaaba08_c.jpg


The Raw and res0nanc3 being piped aboard
36252851694_63b44e20ca_c.jpg




Thankyou for looking
 
Last edited:

georgie

He Never Even Got There
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Nice mate very nice
 

The Wombat

Mr Wombat
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Nice to see something a bit different :thumb
looks like you guys had a fun explore
 

Res0nanc3

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

hmm where did you get the History from?? ;) Like that you included my Titanic spoofing. Great set :)
 

Lenston

Bajo Tierra
Regular User
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Quality stuff there mate, some great shots there, great weekend all around, cheers for coming down :)
 

Mr Sam

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

good stuff saw it from the train a few years back but never been in the area for a closer look, good to see its still there


6074131724_ab786dc1e3_z.jpg
 

The_Raw

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Looking really good mate, absolutely loved this little gem :thumb
 

The Kwan

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Looking really good mate, absolutely loved this little gem :thumb

Cheers man, I know that you enjoyed it too and looking forward to seeing some of your pictures...I saw you on the winch at the forward end capt'n :)
 

Oxygen Thief

Admin
Staff member
Admin
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

It's worryingly close to that scrapyard.
 

Punk

Punkus Explorus
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Really cool report :thumb
 

Ordnance

Stay Safe
Staff member
Moderator
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

If a derelict ever needed a bit of TLC and a lick of paint its this one! It was the 70th anniversary of D-Day this year, and there she is rotting away.
 

Lenston

Bajo Tierra
Regular User
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

If a derelict ever needed a bit of TLC and a lick of paint its this one! It was the 70th anniversary of D-Day this year, and there she is rotting away.

Its probably beyond repair to be honest unless someone fancies a real project and money is no object
 

Telf

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

Epic find, nice work :thumb
 

Paradox

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Re: LV72, " Juno " lightship, Neath Abbey, Wales, Aug 2014

ooooh thats just lovely, nice shots really like this report :thumb
 
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