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USNSCS GRAYFOX

 We had an interesting visit from the USNSCS Grayfox a training ship used to offer cadets training in all aspects of ship's operations. She is currently the largest Sea Cadet training ship in the United States and is cared for and maintained by all cadets in Michigan and sometimes even our ambassadors from the North, the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. The Grayfox receives no financial support from the government. All money needed to operate the vessel comes from donations, grants, and fund raising activities conducted by the crew.    The ship is run by the cadets with the officers serving in a supervisory role also, we have regular Navy and Coast Guard personnel along with several civilians who volunteer their off duty time to assist us in our endeavors.    Built by Marinette Marine in Marinette, WI in 1985 and, she was one of ten 120-foot type Torpedo Weapons Retrievers. Orignally designated TWR 825, she was originally used to launch and retrieve test torpedoes and targets. It was assigned to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Testing and evaluation Center (AUTEC), Andros Island, Bahamas. Due to the changing development of underwater weapons. TWR 825 was no longer needed by the Navy. The ship was taken to Green Cove Springs, Florida, and placed into mothballs in 1995. It was here that the vessel was discovered by an enterprising group of sponsors who decided the Sea Cadets needed a ship to train on. A request was then made to the Secretary of the Navy to have her transferred to the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Paperwork was set into motion, and TWR 825 was obtained on August 15, 1997. A group of 15 dedicated volunteers brought the vessel up from Florida. She arrived in Port Huron, Michigan on August 26, 1997 to a group of excited and anxious onlookers. Grayfox is 120ft in lenght beam 25ft 178 gross tons draft 7.6 two four blade 54" props give her a top speed of 15.5 knots cruising at 12 two Caterpillar 3512TAC engines at 1175hp running at 1800rpm. We thank Commanding Officer LCDR William Barnhardt for visiting with us in Parry Sound Check out the Web Site http://www.geocities.com/hannandivision/grayfox.html

Capt Bob |08:52 EST |Comments (0)

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