USS Canon Heads to Sheboygan
The USS Canon gunboat will serve as a Naval and Maritime Education Center of Sheboygan (NAVMEC) that will highlight Sheboygan’s maritime and patriotic heritage, as well as a museum to honor combatants, veterans of all services and Wisconsin’s Naval Heritage.
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The Journey to Sheboygan
Below is the tow route of the USS Canon from Philly to Sheboygan. Plans are to moor the USS Canon in the Sheboygan River, near the Koepsell Building and the Highland House.
About the USS Canon
Canon was laid down by the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington on 28 June 1966, and commissioned 24 June 1967. The USS Canon is an Asheville class gunboat designed after a need was seen for shallow draft vessels to protect rivers and coastal areas. It was deployed to Vietnam in 1971 as part of Operation Market Time. Canon fought two river battles with attaching enemy forces. In the battles, the Canon and her crew fought courageously and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. In one engagement, almost 50% of the Canon’s crew was wounded. Three Silver and five Bronze Stars were awarded for their heroism. Canon was decommissioned in January 1977.
The Navy named no less than 20 ships for cities in Wisconsin. The Canon is very close in size and type to the USS Ely (PCE-880), a 180’ Patrol Craft that served in Sheboygan until 1970.
Interviews of Veterans Underway
Thanks to many various groups, organizations and individuals, our interviews of veterans are underway. Lakeland College history department is assisting with compiling the data base of local veterans that have served in various branches of service, in various military actions and are still alive. JJ Burkart of Silverwater Productions and his intern Megan Thompson will be assisting with recording and editing. Konrad Kaczkowski will be conducting the interviews; he works part time for TV-14 in Plymouth. He is also very involved with the American Legion.
We will also be researching past projects with a goal of this becoming a searchable data base for viewing at the Naval Museum and Education Center of Sheboygan, as well as available to other historical research entities and educational groups such as schools and libaries. Early Bird Rotary of Sheboygan is also a sponsor of this project. If you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed, please call the museum at (920) 254-8777.
Asheville Class Gunboats
The Asheville class gunboats used a revolutionary drive system that is the pilot for most ship drives used today. Termed the CODAG, it stood for Combined Diesel and Gas. This allowed the ship to go from 0 to 40 knots in next to no time. Armament consisted of a radar controlled 3”/50 cal. gun, a single 40mm gun mount and two twin .50 cal machine guns. The ship is largely aluminum, which is a huge plus for maintenance throughout the year.
WINSA’S Mission
The Wisconsin Naval Ship Association, Inc. mission is to preserve the Navy’s Patrol Gunboat (PG-90) and to bring her to Sheboygan, Wisconsin permanently to serve as a veteran's museum, an educational site for young Americans, a tourist attraction, as a memorial for all veterans and to preserve military history.
Thanks to Thoralf Doehring of navysite.de for providing photo of USS Canon.
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Photo above depicts Commanding Officer; LTJG Robert Hanke shows members of The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) a helm from an old ship set up at the temporary Naval Museum during the Maritime Heritage Festival in Port Washington.
The USNSCC is a Navy-based organization for youth between 13 to 17 years. It teaches them about sea-going military services, community service, discipline and teamwork. The Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC), is a younger version of the NSCC for youths between the ages of 10 and 14.
