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Quapaw News
I received the following from Gary Holmes (a former USS Moctobi sailor) who paid a vist to the Quapaw and Moctobi in September 2008:
The attached photos I took a couple of months ago of the QUAPAW (now named TIGER) along with the MOCTOBI (now named LION). The QUAPAW is in pretty sad shape BUT one of the tentative plans it to have it towed to Singpore by the LION/MOCTOBI for a refit and made operational. Another "tentative" plan calls for scrapping one or both. The hope is that both ships will be made fully functional as ocean tugs and put to work. There was such a plan in place, but it's presently on hold until at least one functioning ship is available. Both hulls are (apparently) sound and will be dry-docked soon for cleaning and inspection.
As of Dec. 5, 2008, all diesel engines on the LION - MOCTOBI are fully functional, with the exception of the #2 Ship's Service Generator which was ruined due to compartment flooding. That same flooding reached half way up the main motor, but as of this same date, the main motor was disassembled "in place" and cleaned/dried then reassembled sufficient to turn under ship's power (low power setting, no load). It will be a some time before this ship is able to get underway by it's own power, but that time is getting closer.
QUAPAW - TIGER suffered more to the ravages of negligence by a prior civilian owner. As I understand it, that owner ran out of interest, funds or both and just walked away. Bills stacked up and power was shut off to the ships. That power operated the bilge and flooding alarms. Seepage caused the water levels to rise unchecked in the main motor rooms of both ships. The water level went much higher in QUAPAW than MOCTOBI but both incurred major damage to equipment. Water was (apparently) over the top of the main motor and both #1 & #2 Ship's Service diesel generators. In the photos can be seen the main motor and #1 SS gen. set.
Much bridge equipment has been removed and many things picked over. In an overseas port such replacement equipment may be available ... or at least close enough.
I hope this is of some interest to your members. The ship is presently at dock in Richmond, California harbor - essentially at the end of CANAL BLVD.
For more photos (of both ships) see web site www.oceantugs.com .
Gary Holmes
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The USS Quapaw ATF 110 Plaque dedication
USS Quapaw commemorated at the United States Navy Memorial
The USS Quapaw ship's plaque (pictured above) was added to the US Navy memorial in a dedication ceremony held at the Arleigh and Roberta Burke Theatre, US Navy Memorial Foundation on 29 March 2007.
Thanks to all who were able to attend the ceremony!
More information to come...
For more information about the memorial, please visit the US Navy Memorial website at lonesailor.org
Re: Pictures recovered from a Brownie camera era Dec 7, 1941
Please don't send them to me... I've seen them.
I know that an e-mail that is circulating says that they were taken by a Quapaw sailor, but I have not been able to verify this. The accompanying story sounds pretty fishy-- the quality of the photos are certainly way beyond what a Brownie camera was ever capable of producing.
The USS Quapaw did not exist at the time of the Pearl Harbor bombing, but that doesn't mean that they couldn't have come from someone who was stationed on the Quapaw at a later date.
I have not been able to find out which supposed Quapaw crewmember that they came from, so I can't vouch for their authenticity.
If anyone has information on the identity of this alleged Quapaw sailor, please let me know.
Thanks.
This definitely appears to be fishy:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/pearlharbor.asp
USS Quapaw underway in heavy seas.
