Just recently I picked up a copy of a "service club register" - essentially a sign-in book - from Mystic Connecticut, covering late 1918 through early 1919. Many of the entries are by subchaser crewmen, from both U.S. and French chasers. I'll scan some pages and post them at some point; it's a great little record of the comings and goings of chaser men around that time, at this one location.
It also brings up an interesting image of the time: these miniature war ships coming in to ports all up and down the east coast of the U.S. as the war has ended, and the fine reception the sailors must have received. I think, also, of the conversations that would have taken place among chaser men and sailors on other, larger ASW vessels. They must have had a lot to talk about!
This month, a few more chaser photos, and as always, a backlog of materials waiting for me to prepare and post ...
Enjoy the summer,
--Todd Woofenden, Editor.
Yaqui and Mayo
It's fascinating to see how the chasers were used after the war. Most were sold and converted for civilian use as fishing vessels, small yachts, and so on. Two, SC 289 and SC 297, found their way into service in Mexico, as YAQUI and MAYO. Posted this month are scans from a Mexican military publication. Thanks to Saul Flores for pointing these out.
SC 91 Photo
Recently posted is a nice photo of submarine chaser SC 91, in Boston harbor. Aside from the neat setting, there are some interesting details. Note the "sprung" decking on the chaser next to SC 91, and the empty triangular crate on deck, possibly the crate that held the K-Tube hydrophone frame (but that's a guess).