198’ Bear Class Steam Barkentine
Built by Alexander Stephenin Dundee Scotland as a sealer in 1874
Taken into US Navy service in 1884 as part of the rescue fleet for the
ill-fated Greeley Arctic expedition
1885: Taken into the Revenue Cutter Service to patrol Alaskan waters
Most famous commanding office was Mike “Hell Roarin'” Healy
Served 41 years in the ice
Carried reindeer from Siberia to Alaska to feed natives
Overland rescue of over 250 sealers stuck in the ice
Decommissioned in 1929 and turned over to Oakland, CA
Used as a set in filming of Jack London’s “Sea Wolf”
Acquired by Adm. Richard Byrd for his 1933 Antarctic Expedition
Returned from the Byrd expedition in 1941 to Boston
In 1941 she was recommissioned into the Navy as an Auxiliary
Coast Guard manned
In WWII she was part of the Greenland Patrol
Took part in the capture of the Norwegian supply ship Buskoe
Decommissioned again in 1944
Sold to a Canadian sealing company – never operational
Purchased by Alfred Johnston of Villanova, PA in 1948
To be used as a restaurant museum in Philadelphia
Sank while being towed to Philadelphia
Possibly the most famous Cutters Coast Guard history
Has been called the Coast Guard’s Constitution
The mascot of the CG Academy is a Bear in her honor
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Rig | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USRC/USCGC | Bear | WAG | 29 | Steam Barkentine | 1885 – 1929 1941 – 1944 |
CGH |
205′ Algonquin Class Steam Brigantine
Commissioned as Revenue Cutters without hull numbers
Last RC class rigged with sails
Though Gresham was the lead ship, design changes
common to the other 4 caused the class to be named after Algonquin
Classified Cruising Cutters in 1915
Reclassified First Class Cruising Cutters in 1925
Decommissioned in 1935
Gresham was re-acquired for WWII service
Hull number assigned in 1939 and reclassified Patrol Gunboat
Decommissioned in 1947
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USRC/USCGC | Gresham | WPG | 85 | 1897 – 1947 | Gresham had been sold for scrap in 1935 Reacquired in 1943 due to wartime needs Assigned to EASTSEAFRON Decommissioned permanently on 7 April 1944 |
CGH NS |
USRC/USCGC | Onondaga | 1898 – 1923 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Algonquin | 1898 – 1930 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Manning | 1898 – 1930 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Mohawk | 1904 – 1917 | Sunk in collision with SS Vennacher | CGH |
190′ Miami Revenue Cutter of the First Class
Commissioned as Revenue Cutters without hull numbers
Classified Cruising Cutters in 1915
Miami was renamed Tampa and was lost in WWI
Unalga was reclassified First Class Cruising Cutter in 1925
Hull number assigned in 1939 and reclassified Patrol Gunboat
Decommissioned in 1945
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USRC/USCGC | Miami later Tampa) |
1912 – 1916 | CGH NS |
|||
USRC/USCGC | Tampa former Miami) |
1916 – 1918 | Sunk by German u-boat in WWI Cited by RADM Niblack, Commander US Naval Forces Gibraltar, for outstanding service CO, CAPT Charles Satterlee, had 2 Navy destroyers named for him Commemorated in Semper Paratus |
CGH NS |
||
USRC/USCGC | Unalga | WPG | 53 | 1912 – 1945 | Unalga survived WWI and had a long Coast Guard career Assigned to the Caribbean Theater in WWII Fought through WWII doing ASW patrols Finally decommissioned in 1945 |
CGH NS |
Misc One-of-a-Kind Cutters
7 served in WWII:
6 for the Coast Guard and 1 for the Army
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USRC/USCGC | Morrill (aka Lot M. Morrill) 145′ |
1889 – 1928 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | McCulloch 219′ | 1897 – 1917 | Largest RC (219′) Steam Barkentine Assigned to Commodore Dewey’s Asiatic Fleet and fought at Manila Bay The first Cutter to transit the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean Lost in a collision on 13 June 1917 |
CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Windom 170′ (later Comanche) |
1897 – 1914 | The RCS 1897 Annual report noted Windom was the first attempt to build a “modern” cutter Windom was completed in 1896 Fully watertight hull, longitudinal and transverse bulkheads and a triple expansion steam plant capable of 15 kts Fought in the Spanish-American War and WWI Renamed Comanche in 1914 |
CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Apache (former Galveston aka Frank Galveston) 190′ |
1900 – 1937 | Commissioned in 1891 as Galveston Renamed Apache in 1900 Decommissioned in 1937 and transferred to the Army Used as radio transmission ship General Douglas MacArthur’s “I have returned” speech was broadcasted from her deck |
CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Seminole 188′ | 1900 – 1934 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Tuscarora 178′ | 1902 – 1936 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Pamlico 158′ | WPR | 57 | 1907 – 1946 | Designed with a shallow draft for inland cruising Stationed in New Bern, NC and became a fixture in the community Transported many Congressional and press parties to New Bern Naval Reserve training ship in WWI Classified a WPR in 1939 and served through WWII One of her crewmen from 1940 to 1943 was Steward’s Mate Alex Haley When informed of her pending decommissioning, New Bern had their Congressman intercede with the Commandant to save the ship Finally decommissioned on 6 September 1946 after 40 years of service A plaque commemorating her service was dedicated on 28 April 1990 Alex Haley helped in the dedication |
CGH |
USRC/USCGC | Acushnet 152′ | 1908 – 1936 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Androscoggin 210′ | 1908 – 1921 | Largest wooden RC (210′) Built specifically as an icebreaker Show piece of the service for many years Hosted several diplomats and conferences Last wooden hulled Cutter in service |
CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Seneca 204′ | 1908 – 1936 | To Maritime Commission as school ship in NY, PA and MA | CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Snohomish 152′ | 1908 – 1934 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Tahoma 191′ | 1909 – 1914 | Grounded and was lost | CGH | ||
USRC/USCGC | Yamacraw 191′ | 1909 – 1937 | CGH | |||
USRC/USCGC | Comanche (former Windom) 170′ |
1914 – 1930 | The RCS 1897 Annual report noted Windom was the first attempt to build a “modern” cutter Windom was completed in 1896 Fully watertight hull, longitudinal and transverse bulkheads and a triple expansion steam plant capable of 15 kts Fought in the Spanish-American War and WWI Renamed Comanche in 1914 |
CGH |
165′ Tallapoosa Class
The last cutters designed by the Revenue Cutter Service
Delivered to the Coast Guard
Commissioned as Cruising Cutters without hull numbers
Reclassified as First Class Cruising Cutters in 1925
Hull numbers were assigned in 1939 and reclassified
One became a Patrol Gunboat, the other a River Patrol Boat
Numbers were assigned alphabetically, not by date of commission
Tallapoosa was lead ship but Ossipee had the lower number
The 165s were officially referred to as the Tallapoosa Class
Both were decommissioned in 1945
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Tallapoosa | WPG | 52 | 1915 – 1945 | Classified a WPG in WWII Her sister was classified a WPR |
CGH NS |
USCGC | Ossipee | WPR | 50 | 1915 – 1945 | Classified a WPR in WWII Her sister was classified a WPG |
CGH NS |
240′ Tampa Class
Cruising Cutter (1921-1925)
Cruising Cutter First Class (1925-1939)
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Haida | 1921 – 1947 | Known as Haida Maru for her time spent in the Pacific | CGH |
USCGC | Modoc | 1922 – 1947 | To Ecuador | CGH |
USCGC | Mojave | 1951 – 1947 | ||
USCGC | Tampa | 1921 – 1947 | CGH |
Floating Base
4 concrete and 2 wooden vessels acquired as mobile floating headquarters
Provided offshore support for prohibition patrol cutters
Model: No
Designation | Name | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Argus (ex Major E. Picket) | 1925 – 1929 | 128′ concrete hulled Army transport Became the flagship of the CG DD Force |
|
USCGC | Colfax (ex General Rufus Ingalls) | 1924 – 1928 | 128′ concrete hulled Army transport | |
USCGC | Pickering (ex BrigGen O.A. Allison) | 1924 – 1928 | 128′ concrete hulled Army transport | |
USCGC | Wayanda (ex Col William H. Baldwin) | 1924 – 1928 | 128′ concrete hulled Army transport | |
USCGC | Moccasin (ex Liberator) | 1924 – 1928 | 102′ wooden hulled freighter | |
USCGC | City Point | 1924 – 1928 | Wooden hulled barge |
Coast Guard Destroyer
Acquired from the Navy to enforce prohibition
Returned to Navy when prohibition repealed
Prohibition was known as the Destroyer Decade in the CG
6 Classes used:
Cassin
Paulding Model: Yes
O’Brien
Tucker
Sampson
Clemson Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Cassin | Cassin – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 1 | 1924 – 1933 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Cummings | Cassin – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 3 | 1925 – 1932 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Downes | Cassin – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 4 | 1924 – 1930 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Ammen | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 8 | 1925 – 1931 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Beale | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 9 | 1924 – 1930 | CGH | |
USCGC | Burrows | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 10 | 1925 – 1931 | NS | |
USCGC | Fanning | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 11 | 1925 – 1930 | CGH | |
USCGC | Henley | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 12 | 1924 – 1931 | NS | |
USCGC | Jouett | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 13 | 1924 – 1931 | CGH | |
USCGC | McCall | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 14 | 1925 – 1930 | CGH | |
USCGC | Monaghan | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 15 | 1925 – 1931 | CGH | |
USCGC | Patterson | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 16 | 1924 – 1930 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Paulding | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 17 | 1925 – 1930 | CGH NS |
|
USCGC | Roe | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 18 | 1925 – 1930 | CGH | |
USCGC | Terry | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 19 | 1925 – 1930 | CGH | |
USCGC | Trippe | Paulding – Flivver | CGD | 20 | 1924 – 1931 | CGH | |
USCGC | Ericsson | O’Brien – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 5 | 1925 – 1932 | CGH | |
USCGC | McDougal | O’Brien – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 6 | 1925 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Conyngham | Tucker – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 2 | 1925 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Porter | Tucker – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 7 | 1925 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Tucker | Tucker – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 23 | 1926 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Wainwright | Tucker – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 24 | 1926 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Davis | Sampson – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 21 | 1926 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Shaw | Sampson – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 22 | 1926 – 1933 | CGH | |
USCGC | Wilkes | Sampson – 1000 Tonner | CGD | 25 | 1926 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Abel P. Upsher | Clemson Flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 15 | 1920 – 1931 | CGH | |
USCGC | George E. Badger | Clemson flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 16 | 1931 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Herndon | Clemson Flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 17 | 1931 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Hunt | Clemson Flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 18 | 1931 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Welborn C. Wood | Clemson Flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 19 | 1931 – 1934 | CGH | |
USCGC | Semmes | Clemson Flush decker/4 Stacker |
CGD | 20 | 1932 – 1934 | CGH |
250′ Lake Class Cruising Cutter First Class
Part of a massive expansion by ADM Frederick Billard
Commissioned as First Class Cruising Cutters without hull numbers
Hull numbers were assigned in 1939, reclassified as Patrol Gunboats
The 250s were officially referred to as the Lake or the Chelan Class
Sent to the UK under Lend-Lease
Only a few saw service after the war
All were decommissioned by 1950
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Mocoma (former Cayuga) (ex HMS Totland) |
WPG | 163 | 1946 – 1950 | CGH | |
USCGC | Saranac (later HMS Banff (41 – 46)) (later Sebec) (later Tampa) |
WPG | 164 | 1930 – 1941 | CGH | |
USCGC | Sebec (former Saranac) (ex HMS Banff) (later Tampa) |
WPG | 164 | 1946 – 1947 | CGH | |
USCGC | Tampa (former Saranac) (ex HMS Banff) (former Sebek) |
WPG | 164 | 1947 – 1954 | CGH | |
USCGC | Champlain (later HMS Sennen 41 – 46) | WPG | 319 | 1928 – 1948 | CGH | |
USCGC | Itasca (later HMS Gorleston 41 – 46) | WPG | 321 | 1929 – 1950 | CGH | |
USCGC | Cayuga (later HMS Totland 41 – 46) (later Mocoma) |
WPG | 163 | 1932 – 1941 | CGH | |
USCGC | Chelan (later HMS Lulworth 41 – 46) | 1928 – 1946 | Never Decommissioned after return from UK | |||
USCGC | Mendota (later HMS Culver 41 – 46) | 1928 – 1942 | Sunk while in UK service | CGH | ||
USCGC | Ponchartrain (later HMS Hartland 41 – 46) | 1928 – 1942 | Sunk while in UK service | CGH | ||
USCGC | Sebago (later HMS Walney 41 – 46) | 1930 – 1941 | Sunk while in UK service | CGH | ||
USCGC | Shoshone (later Landguard 41 – 46) | 1930 – 1941 | Damaged while in UK service – never returned | CGH | ||
USCGC | Tahoe (later HMS Fishguard 41 – 46) | 1928 – 1946 | Never Decommissioned after return from UK | CGH |
165’A Algonquin Class Cruising Cutter First Class
Part of a massive expansion by Commandant ADM Frederick Billard
Based on the Tallapoosa design
Designed with a cutaway forefoot for light (up to 2′) icebreaking
Commissioned as First Class Cruising Cutters without hull numbers
Hull numbers were assigned in 1939 and reclassified Patrol Gunboats
Numbers were assigned alphabetically, not by date of commission
Escanaba was lead ship, but Algonquin was assigned lowest number
The 165As were officially referred to as Algonquin Class
Tahoma was decommissioned in 1953
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Algonquin | WPG | 75 | 1934 – 1948 | CGH | |
USCGC | Comanche | WPG | 76 | 1934 – 1947 | CGH | |
USCGC | Escanaba | WPG | 77 | 1932 – 1943 | Commissioned 17 September 1932 – stationed in Grand Haven, MI Operated entirely in the Great Lakes Established close ties with Grand Haven – Coast Guard City, USA The city always celebrated the 4 August birthday of the Coast Guard Transferred to the Greenland Patrol in 1942 It was noted that survivors were too cold to hold rescue lines LT Robert Prouse, Escanaba XO, developed a rubber suit that rescuers could wear into the water to pick up survivors Suits were used to rescue 133 men from the torpedoed Dorchester Widely used by other ships throughout the war 13 June 1942 – Escanaba exploded and sank Final cause was never established All but 2 of her 103 man crew were lost 4 August 1943 over 20,000 people in Grand Haven attended memorial services for Escanaba Grand Haven is still Coast Guard City, USA and still marks Coast Guard Day with a grand celebration |
CGH |
USCGC | Mohawk | WPG | 78 | 1935 – 1948 | To Delaware Bay and River Pilots Assoc to Miami Dade Historical Museum |
CGH |
USCGC | Onondaga | WPG | 79 | 1934 – 1947 | ||
USCGC | Tahoma | WPG | 80 | 1934 – 1953 | CGH |
327′ Secretary/Treasury Class Cruising Cutter First Class
Acquired by Commandant Russell Waesche
Designed to provide support for commercial transoceanic flights
Commissioned as First Class Cruising Cutters without hull numbers
Hull numbers were assigned in 1939, reclassified as Patrol Gunboats
Numbers were assigned alphabetically, not by date of commission
Hamilton was lead ship, but Bibb was assigned the lowest hull number
The 327s are officially referred to as the Secretary, Treasury or Hamilton Class
In WWII they were first used as convoy escorts in the Atlantic
Taney fought in the Pacific and then in the Med
Taney was up-gunned with 4 5″/38s for ant air warfare in the Med
In 1945 they were converted to amphibious command ships
After the war they were reclassified back to Patrol Gunboats
Performed OWS duty after the war
All served in Vietnam
Reclassified High Endurance Cutters in 1967
Ingham was decommissioned in 1989
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Bibb (former George M. Bibb) |
WPG WHEC |
31 | 1937 – 1985 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Norfolk 1939: Neutrality/Greenland/OWS Patrols Convoy duty and amphibious command ship in WWII Typical post-war duties – OWS 14 October 1947: Ocean Station Charlie off Greenland Bermuda Sky Queen, a Boeing 314 Flying Boat, was forced to ditch late at night 30 foot waves prevented a rescue attempt until the next morning All 62 passengers safely evacuated on 15 October Unable to safely tow the aircraft, Bibb sank it with gunfire Deployed to Vietnam Sunk as a reef off Florida |
CGH |
USCGC | Campbell (former George W. Campbell) |
WPG WHEC |
32 | 1936 – 1982 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Stapleton, New York 2 October 1939: performed the first Neutrality Patrol 1941: used as a test bed to see if 327s could serve as convoy escorts Convoy duty and amphibious command ship in WWII 22 February 1943: Rammed and sank U-606 Typical post-war duties – OWS Deployed to Vietnam Crowned as first official Queen of the Fleet in mid 1970s Sunk as a reef off Hawaii |
CGH |
USCGC | Duane (former William J. Duane) |
WPG WHEC |
33 | 1936 – 1985 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Oakland 1939: Neutrality/Greenland/OWS Patrols Convoy duty and amphibious command ship in WWII 17 April 1943: assisted CGC Spencer in sinking U-175 Typical post-war duties – OWS Deployed to Vietnam Queen of the Fleet from 1982 to 1985 Sunk as an artificial reef off Key Largo, Florida |
CGH |
USCGC | Alexander Hamilton | WPG WHEC |
34 | 1936 – 1942 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Oakland Bering Sea Patrol 1939: Neutrality/Greenland/OWS Patrols Convoy duty in WWII 29 January 1942: sunk by U-132 25 crewmen killed |
CGH |
USCGC | Ingham (former Samuel D. Ingham) |
WPG WHEC |
35 | 1936 – 1988 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Port Angeles, Washington 1939: Neutrality/Greenland/OWS patrols Convoy duty and amphibious command ship in WWII 17 December 1942: sank U-626 Typical post-war duties – OWS Deployed to Vietnam Queen of the Fleet from 1985 to 1988 Retired as the most decorated cutter in the Coast Guard Fleet Only cutter to be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations Currently centerpiece of the Ingham Memorial Museum in Key West, Florida |
CGH |
USCGC | Spencer (former John C. Spencer) |
WPG WHEC |
36 | 1937 – 1980 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Cordova, Alaska 1939: Neutrality/Greenland/OWS Patrols Convoy duty and amphibious command ship in WWII 21 February 1943: Sank either U-225 or (more likely) U-529 Typical post-war duties – OWS Deployed to Vietnam First of the 327s to be decommissioned in 1974 Served as an Engineering Training School until scrapped in 1980 |
CGH |
USCGC | Taney (former Roger B. Taney) |
WPG WHEC |
37 | 1936 – 1986 | Built in Philadelphia and stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii One of the first ships to return fire during the 7 December 1941 attack Defended the Honolulu Power Plant The only 327 not deployed in the North Atlantic convoy run Patrolled in the Pacific until 1943 1943: The only 327 to mount 4 5″/38 guns Joined the Mediterranean convoy run Typical post-war duties – OWS Deployed to both Korea and Vietnam 1977: Last Coast Guard Cutter on OWS when Station Hotel was discontinued Decommissioned on 7 December 1986 Museum ship in Baltimore |
CGH |
Misc Patrol Gunboat
EASTSEAFRON
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USS/USCGC | Nourmahal | WPG | 72 | 1940 – 1946 | William Vincent Astor’s personal yacht Voluntarily turned over to the Coast Guard in 1940 Transferred to the Navy in 1943 with Coast Guard crew Transferred back to Coast Guard in 1944 Served as OWS vessel, Flagship of EASTSEAFRON and as a harbor tow vessel at Coast Guard Yard Returned to Astor in 1946 |
NS |
USCGC | Mayflower (ex USS Butte) |
WPG | 183 | 1943 – 1946 | Built in 1896 as a luxury yacht for Ogden Goelet and named for him Acquired by the Navy in 1898 as USS Mayflower Served in the Spanish America War Served as Commodore Dewey’s Flagship in the Asiatic Fleet Served as Presidential yacht from 1906 to 1929< Treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War was negotiated on board Decommissioned by Hoover as an economic savings Series of commercial owners through the Great Depression Acquired by the Navy in 1942 as USS Butte Decommissioned CGC Mayflower in 1943 EASTSEAFRON Involved in smuggling Jews into Israel in 1948 Ultimate fate unknown/td> |
NS |
Misc Patrol Gunboats
Greenland Patrol
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Northland 216′ | WPG | 49 | 1927 – 1946 | Built as a replacement for the venerable Bear Bering Sea Patrol doing “everything under the midnight sun” Transferred to Boston in 1938 in preparation for war Flagship of the Greenland Patrol Seized Norwegian sealer Buskoe – a German supply ship First seizure of the war – 12 Sep 1941 Sold to an American company working with the Israeli underground Renamed Jewish State, she ran refugees to Israel First warship of the Israeli Navy in 1948 – Renamed Matzpen Ended as an accommodations ship for Port Command Haifa Decommissioned and sold in 1962 |
CGH |
USCGC | North Star 225′ | WPG | 59 | 1941 – 1944 | Acquired from Dept of Interior Greenland Patrol |
CGH |
Misc Patrol Gunboat
Non-Combatant
Model: No
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Cobb 300′ (ex Governor Cobb) |
WPG | 181 | 1943 – 1946 | 1906 – First turbine propelled commercial ship in US Training ship in EASRSEAFRON in WWI Originally used as a steam plant training ship 1944 – Converted to a helicopter carrier with the addition of a flight deck Instrumental in proving the concept of helo ops from ships Recognized as the first helicopter carrier |
Wiki Wiki |
Ocean Weather Station Vessels
These were commercial vessels acquired for OWS duty
6 were 1920s steamers, 1 was a WYPc trawler.
Muskegat was a 1920s steamer lost to a German torpedo
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Picture |
USS/USCGC | Muskegat (ex Cornish) |
1923 Freighter 233 |
AG/WAG | 48 | 1941 – 1942 | Missing and presumed sunk by U-Boat Only OWS ship lost to enemy action |
CGH |
USS/USCGC | Manhasset (ex Wilton) |
1923 Freighter 245 |
AG/WAG | 47/276 | 1942 – 1945 | NS | |
USCGC | Sea Cloud | 1931 Bark 316 |
WPG/IX | 284 | 1942 – 1944 | Built in 1931 as E. F. Hutton’s 4 masted luxury bark Hussar II Bought by Joseph Davis, US Ambassador to Russia Acquired in 1942 for OWS duty Commanded by LT Carlton Skinner Skinner received permission to train minorities in rates other than steward Eventually 50 black enlisted and 2 officers served aboard Sea Cloud Skinner reported no loss in proficiency in the first experiment in integration at sea Returned to owner after the war |
CGH |
USS/USCGC | Manasquan (ex Aetna) (ex Oscar J. Lingeman) (ex Lake Catherine) |
1918 Freighter 261 |
AG/WAG | 36/273 | 1942 – 1945 | First ship to receive LORAN transmissions at sea as part of test program |
Wiki |
USCGC | Menemsha | 1918 Freighter 261 |
WAG | 274 | 1942 – 1945 | NS | |
USS/USCGC | Monomoy (ex J. Floyd Massey) (ex Lake Arlene) |
1918 Freighter 261 |
AG/WAG | 40/275 | 1943 – 1945 | NS | |
USCGC | Amethyst (ex Samona II) |
Deep Sea Trawler 147 |
WYPc | 3 | 1944 – 1946 | Ocean Weather Station | |
USS/USCG | Asterion (ex USS Asterion) (ex Evelyn) |
1912 Freighter Misc AK 382′ |
AK/WAK | 100/123 | 1944 – 1946 | Freighter converted to Q-ship from 42 to 44 then to OWS duty |
NS |
USCGC | Big Horn (ex Gulf Dawn) |
1936 Tanker 425 |
WAO | 124 | 1944 – 1945 | Civilian tanker turned Q-Ship turned OWS Note that she was NOT a T-2 tanker |
CGH |
255′ Lake Class Patrol Gunboat
Replaced the 250 Lake Class given to the UK
Commissioned as Patrol Gunboats
The first white hulls commissioned with hull numbers
The 255s are officially referred to as the Lake or Owasco Class
Most served in Vietnam
Reclassified as High Endurance Cutters in 1967
All were decommissioned in 1973/1974
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Owasco | WPG/WHEC | 39 | 1945 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Winnebago | WPG/WHEC | 40 | 1945 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Chautauqua | WPG/WHEC | 41 | 1945 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Sebago | WPG/WHEC | 42 | 1945 – 1972 | CGH | |
USCGC | Iroquois | WPG/WHEC | 43 | 1946 – 1965 | ||
USCGC | Wachusett | WPG/WHEC | 44 | 1946 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Escanaba | WPG/WHEC | 64 | 1946 – 1974 | CGH | |
USCGC | Winona | WPG/WHEC | 65 | 1946 – 1974 | CGH | |
USCGC | Klamath | WPG/WHEC | 66 | 1946 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Minnetonka | WPG/WHEC | 67 | 1946 – 1974 | CGH | |
USCGC | Androscoggin | WPG/WHEC | 68 | 1946 – 1974 | CGH | |
USCGC | Mendota | WPG/WHEC | 69 | 1945 – 1973 | CGH | |
USCGC | Pontchartrain | WPG/WHEC | 70 | 1945 – 1973 | CGH |
303′ Tacoma Class Patrol Frigate
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Muskegon | WPF | 24 | 1946 – 1946 | NS | |
USCGC | Emporia | WPF | 28 | 1944 – 1947 | To France | NS |
USCGC | Groton | WPF | 29 | 1944 – 1947 | NS | |
USCGC | Woonsocket | WPF | 32 | 1946 – 1946 | To Peru | NS |
USCGC | Hutchinson | WPF | 45 | 1944 – 1946 | NS | |
USCGC | Covington | WPF | 56 | 1944 – 1946 | To Ecuador | NS |
USCGC | Sheboygan | WPF | 57 | 1944 – 1946 | To Belgium | NS |
USCGC | Manitowoc | WPF | 61 | 1944 – 1946 | To France | |
USCGC | Forsyth | WPF | 102 | 1945 – 1946 | NS |
328′ Charleston Class Patrol Gunboat
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USS/USCG | Charleston | 328 USS Charleston | PG | 51 | Never transferred | NS |
306′ Edsall Class Destroyer Escort
Acquired from the Navy
Used as Ocean Weather Station ships during the Korean War
Then returned to the Navy
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Newell | DE/WDE | 322/422 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC | Falgout | DE/WDE | 324/424 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC | Lowe | DE/WDE | 325/425 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC | Finch | DE/WDE | 328/428 | 1951 – 1954 | NS | |
USCGC | Koiner | DE/WDE | 331/431 | 1951 – 1954 | NS | |
USCGC | Forster | DE/WDE | 334/434 | 1951 – 1954 | To South Vietnam | NS |
USCGC | Ramsden | DE/WDE | 382/482 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC | Vance | DE/WDE | 384/487 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | CGH NS |
USCGC | Richey | DE/WDE | 385/485 | 1951 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | CGH |
USCGC | Lansing | DE/WDE | 388/488 | 1952 – 1955 | NS | |
USCGC | Durant | DE/WDE | 389/489 | 1952 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC | Chambers | DE/WDE | 391/491 | 1952 – 1954 | Manned by CG in WWII | NS |
USCGC Courier Radar Picket Ship
Built in 1945 as the C1-M-AV1 Class cargo ship Coastal Messenger
Transferred to the Department of State in 1952
Converted to communications vessel for use in Operation Vagabond
The idea was to broadcast the Voice of America to countries behind the Iron Curtain
The ship could easily move from hot spot to hot spot as needed
For political reasons, the Navy could not operate the vessel
So the Coast Guard acquired a new mission
22 August 1952 – On station off Rhodes Greece
Originally used a barrage balloon to hold the antenna aloft
Later, after a few balloons sailed over Turkey, the forward mast
July 1964 – operations moved ashore – Courier ordered home
Longest USCGC deployment in history
Served as a training cutter at OCS till 1972
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Courier (ex Coastal Messenger) |
WAGR/WTR | 410 | 1952 – 1972 | CGH Link Link |
378′ Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutter
Commissioned as High Endurance Cutters
The first cutters of the modern era
Not acquired from another service and never reclassified
With the 210s, first new CG built capital ship since 1936
The 378s were officially referred to as the Hamilton Class
Being replaced by the National Security Cutter, Large
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Hamilton | WHEC | 715 | 1965 – Active | ||
USCGC | Dallas | WHEC | 716 | 1967 – Active | CGH | |
USCGC | Mellon | WHEC | 717 | 1967 – Active | CGP | |
USCGC | Chase | WHEC | 718 | 1968 – Active | CGP | |
USCGC | Boutwell | WHEC | 719 | 1968 – Active | CGH CGP |
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USCGC | Sherman | WHEC | 720 | 1968 – Active | CGH CGP |
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USCGC | Gallatin | WHEC | 721 | 1968 – Active | CGH | |
USCGC | Morgenthau | WHEC | 722 | 1969 – Active | CGP | |
USCGC | Rush | WHEC | 723 | 1968 – Active | CGH CGP |
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USCGC | Munro | WHEC | 724 | 1971 – Active | CGH | |
USCGC | Jarvis | WHEC | 725 | 1970 – Active | CGH | |
USCGC | Midgett | WHEC | 726 | 1971 – Active | CGH CGP |
418′ Legends Class National Security Cutter
Named for legendary Coast Guard personnel
Replacing the 378s
The first class NOT to be referred to by length
Called the “Wimsel”
Model: Yes
Designation | Name | Class | Hull | Service | Comments | Pictures |
USCGC | Bertholf | WMSL | 750 | Ellsworth Bertholf Last Commandant of the Revenue Cutter Service First Commandant of the Coast Guard |
CGH Link |
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USCGC | Waesche | WMSL | 751 | Russell Waesche Commandant during WWII |
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USCGC | Stratton | WMSL | 752 | Dorothy Stratton Founder of the SPARs |
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USCGC | Munro | WMSL | 753 | Douglas Munro Only CG Medal of Honor recipient |
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USCGC | James | WMSL | 754 | Joshua James Legendary figure in the Lifesaving Service |
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USCGC | Stone | WMSL | 755 | Elmer Stone First Coast Guard aviator Driving force behind Coast Guard aviation |
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USCGC | Midgett | WMSL | 756 | The Midgett Family Legendary figures in the Lifesaving Service |
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USCGC | Kimball | WMSL | 757 | Sumner Kimball Organized the Lifesaving Service Served as its Superintendant Until merged with the Revenue Cutter Service |