Navy Lightships

As World War I wound down, the U.S. Navy established a planning committee of Capt. Tompkins, Cmdr. A.L. Bristol, Cmdr. R.S. Crenshaw to come up with "a safe and expeditious return of troops in the event of peace." In their five-page report, the committee proposed that Boston, New York, Chesapeake Bay Charleston be the major disembarkation ports. Delaware Bay was quickly added. It was believed that the Germans had laid various types of mines off America's east coast out to the 30 fathom line.