Vincent Tibbetts / Walt Hendee

Vincent Tibbetts reef
Type:
artificial reef, T1-M-A2 tanker, gasoline
Built:
1944 Bayonne NJ USA as USS Ochlockonee AOG-33
Specs:
( 244 x 37 ft ) tonnage unknown after lengthening
Sponsor:
Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association, PSE&G Habitat Restoration Fund, friends of Walt Hendee, Ann E. Clark Foundation
Dedication:
Walt Hendee
Sunk:
Thursday Sept 5, 2002 - Deepwater Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°58.385' -74°11.429'
Depth:
135 ft
Vincent Tibbetts reef

AOG-33 Ochlockonee ( A river that flows through Georgia and Florida )

Vincent Tibbetts reef
Class-ship Mettawee AOG-17

Displacement: 846 tons (light) 2,270 tons (full load )
Length: 220' 6"
Beam: 37'
Draft: 17'
Speed: 10 kts.
Complement: 62
Armament: 1 x 3"/50 dual purpose, 2 x 40mm, 3 x 20mm
Cargo Capacity: 1,228 DWT
Propulsion: diesel direct drive, single screw, 720hp

History:

The USS Ochlockonee was a Mettawee-Class gasoline tanker. She was formerly MC Hull 1530, and was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 18 October 1944 by East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey; launched 19 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Albert Robinette; acquired by the Navy 18 December 1944; and commissioned 29 December 1944 with a Coast Guard crew, Lt. Arthur W. Walker, USCG, in command.

Vincent Tibbetts reef
A sister in camouflage paint. For such small transports, these little ships bristled with guns.

Following shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, Ochlockonee departed Norfolk 15 February 1945 for Hawaii via Aruba, the Panama Canal, and San Diego, arriving 14 April. Operating out of Pearl Harbor for the remainder of the war, Ochlockonee made fueling runs among the Hawaiians and to Johnston and Canton Islands.

She decommissioned at San Pedro, Calif., 14 January 1946, and was struck from the Navy List 7 February. Returned to the Maritime Administration on 21 June and sold for commercial service. Owned by various companies including Texaco Oil Company which renamed her Texaco No. 10. Later renamed Vincent Tibbetts. Laid up in 2001. Final disposition: sunk as an artificial reef, September 5 2002, off the New Jersey coast.

-- from Coast Guard and Navy historical records

Vincent Tibbetts reef
Yet another sister, with even wilder paint
Vincent Tibbetts reef
Vincent Tibbetts aground in Maine, 1977

Vincent Tibbetts reef

With no need of a gun platform or accommodations for the extra crew, the stern was cut down for civilian use. She also appears to have been lengthened.

Vincent Tibbetts reef

The AOG designation stands for 'Auxiliary Oiler - Gasoline'. These were ocean-going vessels, as opposed to YO's (Yard Oiler) which were similar but smaller harbor support craft. The Mettawee-class gasoline tanker was the smallest AOG at 221 feet, but it was the largest class of this important type of vessel. These little ships covered every front of the war from the South Pacific to Alaska, and also served in the Atlantic. After the war many were transferred to the merchant fleet.

Ochlockonee was sister to AOG-23 Ammonusuc ( Mary C )


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Sargassum Fish

I prefer natural-looking decor in an aquarium. That pretty much rules out fluorescent plastic skulls and little air-powered pirate ships. There are a large number of items that are available to furnish an aquarium, and many of them are even free.

Gravel is available in almost any color you want. All fish have at least some control over their color, and will usually try to match their surroundings. Therefore, I go for darker colored gravels that make the fish's colors more intense. The same goes for the aquarium background - black paper works nicely. Artificially colored gravels are OK, but when they split open the true color inside shows through, giving a salt and pepper effect that you may or may not like. You should have enough gravel to cover the entire bottom of the tank to a depth of at least one inch.

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