Nash (tugboat)

World War II US Army Large Tug Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5) at H. Lee White Marine Museum, Oswego, New York
Career (United States)
Name:	Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5)
Builder:	Jakobson Shipyard, Oyster Bay NY
Fate:	Museum ship
General characteristics
Class and type:	LT (large tug)
Type:	tugboat
Displacement:	306 long tons (311 t)
Length:	114.1 feet (34.8 m)
Beam:	25 feet (7.6 m)
Draft:	14 feet (4.3 m)
Propulsion:	Enterprise 8 cylinder diesel
Speed:	11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h)
Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5) ex-John F. Nash (LT-5)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location:	Oswego, New York
Coordinates:	43°27′48.52″N 76°30′56.19″W / 43.4634778°N 76.5156083°W / 43.4634778; -76.5156083Coordinates: 43°27′48.52″N 76°30′56.19″W / 43.4634778°N 76.5156083°W / 43.4634778; -76.5156083
Built:	1943 Jakobson Shipyard, Oyster Bay NY
Architect:	Cox & Stevens
Governing body:	H. Lee White Marine Museum
NRHP Reference#:	91002059
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	December 4, 1991[1]
Designated NHL:	December 4, 1992 [2]

Nash is a World War II U.S. Army Large Tug (LT) class seagoing tugboat. Originally named Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5), in 1946 she was renamed John F. Nash^[3] by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since retirement from the Corps of Engineers, LT-5 has been renamed Major Elisha K. Henson. LT-5 is the last functional U.S. Army vessel that participated in Normandy landings.

LT-5 sailed to Great Britain in February 1944 in anticipation of Operation Overlord, the planned allied invasion Europe. On June 6, 1944, LT-5 sailed for Normandy with two barges as part of Operation Mulberry, in support of Overlord. Under fire, the tug ferried supplies to the landing beaches for the next month, in the process shooting down a German fighter aircraft on June 9th.^[3]

After the war, LT-5 returned to the the United States. Assigned to the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May 1946, LT-5 was renamed John F. Nash. Nash was the Buffalo District's Senior Engineer and Chief Civilian Assistant for the period 1932 to 1941. From 1946 to 1989, Nash served the lower Great Lakes region by assisting in the maintenance of harbors, and construction projects that included the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s.^[3]

Renamed Major Elisha K. Henson, she has been largely restored to her original configuration by the H. Lee White Marine Museum in Oswego, New York where she is currently on display. Tours are available Mid-May through the end of September.^[4] LT-5 was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5) (ex-Nash)

LT-5starboard-side view, 2009.   LT-5 bow view

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ "NASH (Harbor Tug)". National Historic Landmark Summary Listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-15. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=2124&ResourceType=Structure. Retrieved 2011 October 19. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Delgado, James P. (October 5, 1990). "Maritime Heritage of the United States Theme Study—Large Vessels Registration: Nash (Harbor Tug)(See accompanying photos)". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/91002059.pdf. Retrieved 2011 October 19. 
4. ^ "NYS 5 year preservation plan" (pdf). http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/state/HP5YRPLAN.PDF. ^{[dead link]}

• "Five Photos c.1946 to 1990 - part of National Historic Landmark Registration". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/91002059.pdf. Retrieved 2011 October 19. 

External links

• Official Site