Truckin' on the Western Branch

West Norfolk businessman Herb Haneman served abord the Tamaroa years ago, prior to the “Perfect Storm.” Images by Sheally

In 1975 the base was renamed Support Center Portsmouth and bustled with a variety of details moving in, civilian jobs filled and a search and rescue command established. A commissioning ceremony was held in November 1975 but the adjustments continued—rains and high tides caused flooding, plumbing problems and power failures on the site.

The final phase of the new Support Center relied on barges to move the supply depot and the industrial facility, and all their buoys, sinkers, pilings, bells, forklifts and boat sheds, from downtown Portsmouth to Craney Island. The old Portsmouth base was decommissioned in April 1978, with plenty of stories and shared service memories Thiesen said. The City of Portsmouth acquired the land for future commercial and industrial development. The Craney Island site continued to grow, adding a swimming pool and other recreational facilities as well as a helicopter pad, firing range, storage and service buildings. Six 270-foot medium endurance cutters are stationed there as well as buoy tenders, harbor tugs and patrol boats. About 1,200 military personnel and 90 civilians work at the Support Center. “There are a lot of good hardworking people at the base,” Thiesen said. “They ensure the local area is safe—and deal with security, environment, and weather concerns such as when the Coast Guard was first on scene for the HMS Bounty rescue during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.”

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