Antarctic workhorse

Press, 10 January 1986, Page 14

Antarctic workhorse

When asked by the United States Government to suggest a gift for the Canterbury Museum’s Antarctic collection, the late Dr Roger Duff, then director of the institution, could not have chosen a more appropriate one than that of a model of the icebreaker Glacier.

This ship had become to New Zealanders the symbol of “Operation Deep Freeze.” Of the many vessels which first used our ports during the International Geophysical Year and beyond, and became familiar features of the waterfront during the summer season, the Glacier is now the only link with that exciting period. The Glacier was the fifth ice breaker for the United States Navy

and was the largest and most powerful when her builders, Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation of Pascagoula, Mississippi, handed her over. She had cost the United States taxpayer $35 million to build, and another $lO million to get fully operational. In a class of her own, she was all welded with double-thick hull and a round bottom without rolling chocks. She attracted much interest when she arrived in Lyttelton on her maiden voyage in 1955 as a unit of Task Force 43. Her 10 Fairbanks-Morse diesel motors drove her twin propellers with a combined horsepower of 21,000 and pushed the ship along at 17.6 knots. It would take ice 15 feet

thick to stop her. Three hundred and ten feet in length and displacing 8775 tons, this maritime Goliath carried Rear Admiral Byrd to the Antarctic on the voyage that first opened the way for the Antarctic programme which continues today.

Sailing from Lyttelton on December 10, 1955, she carried the good wishes of the country, as well as 16 New Zealanders, and much of the equipment to be used to set up Scott Base.

Back in Lyttelton, after playing a major role in establishing the United States at McMurdo Sound, she took in tow the “Y.0.G.70” (Yard Oiler Gasoline) and returned to the ice with this odd vessel which was to be used for the

storage of aviation spirit. She continued in her major role, often making three return voyages to the Antarctic in a season, carrying men and cargo, and opening up the frozen sea for shipping.

Always in great demand, her abilities were stretched in January, 1959, when she undertook three rescue missions at the same time. The relief of five men stranded on Robertson Island, the relief of the trapped Belgian ship Polarhav at Breid Bay on the Princess Raghild coast, and the troubled Japanese polar ship Soya Maru. If there was work to be done, then send the Glacier, seemed to be the order of the day. For over 30 years she has visited

New Zealand each season and her appearance has changed little, except for the removal of her guns, while her dark grey Navy colour has been replaced by the white of the United States Coast Service. However, she is still the same, familiar Glacier, even if her livery k is altered.

At a recent ceremony in the museum, Mr H. Munroe-Browne, then United States Ambassador to New Zealand, handed over a model of the icebreaker on behalf of his Government. There could not have been a more suitable gift. Glacier, we salute you.

By

BADEN NORRIS