In March, 1919, Lt. Dole was anticipating the possibility of a trip to northern Russia, during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution.
Dole wrote home: “Do not believe this will materialize, but anything may happen. The situation in Russia is acute, but can’t see what use these chasers would be there. We might run up a few rivers and distribute supplies but barges could do better and more efficient work. ... Have an idea that the scheme of sending us to Russia will be abandoned."
from: Hunters of the Steel Sharks: The Submarine Chasers of WWI, page 120.
Nonetheless, in the third week of March, Lt. Dole was chosen to participate in a trip north. The first stop would be Inverness, Scotland, to prepare for a journey over the Arctic Circle. Dole was assigned as CO of SC 354, one of twelve chasers selected for service in Russian waters.
Soon these chasers would be fitted with twin 3"/32 caliber deck guns (the second installed where the Y-gun was formerly located), Mark IV Lewis machine guns, rifles, pistols, and all the trappings to go with them. They would travel north as small, heavily armed gunboats.
--Todd Woofenden, editor
Added this month:
110-foor Subchaser Chaser model by Samuel Parent (mostly complete).
Collection of crew photos from SC 181 (Collection of Harry Betzig)