Return to White Hulls

1947 to 1960

Open Ocean

The open-ocean cutters were six 327s that survived the war and 13 255s commissioned in 1945, too late to serve in the war. The DEs and PFs were returned to the Navy. With the growing demand for Ocean Weather Stations, the Navy gave 18 311’ Barnegat-class seaplane tenders to the Coast Guard. The 311s were …

Coastal

The coastal patrol cutters were the 125s. These were also classified as WPGs. The 240s and 165As and Bs were sold for scrap soon after the war as part of the demobilization process. The Coast Guard acquired two Navy PCEs to replace Bedloe and Jackson, both lost to storms. Neither ship served very long in …

Patrol Boats

The patrol boat concept had its origins in Prohibition. The Coast Guard needed fast, shallow draft boats to follow the rum runners into bays and rivers. In WWII, patrol boats were used for near-shore rescue missions that were beyond the capability of the surfboats and lifeboats. The Coast Guard fought the war with 230 83’ …