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High Endurance Cutters

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
USCGC Sherman WHEC 720 1968 – Active CGH
CGP
USCGC Gallatin WHEC 721 1968 – Active CGH
USCGC Morgenthau WHEC 722 1969 – Active CGP
USCGC Rush WHEC 723 1968 – Active CGH
CGP
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
USCGC Waesche WMSL 751 Russell Waesche
Commandant during WWII
USCGC Stratton WMSL 752 Dorothy Stratton
Founder of the SPARs
USCGC Munro WMSL 753 Douglas Munro
Only CG Medal of Honor recipient
USCGC James WMSL 754 Joshua James
Legendary figure in the Lifesaving Service
USCGC Stone WMSL 755 Elmer Stone
First Coast Guard aviator
Driving force behind Coast Guard aviation
USCGC Midgett WMSL 756 The Midgett Family
Legendary figures in the Lifesaving Service
USCGC Kimball WMSL 757 Sumner Kimball
Organized the Lifesaving Service
Served as its Superintendant
Until merged with the Revenue Cutter Service