High Endurance Cutters

Several ships came from the Navy in 1946, but only 2 205′ Fleet Tugs and 2 213′ Rescue Vessels remained in service in 1947
Ocean Weather Stations became prominent in the 1950s to support the fast growing transoceanic commercial aviation industry
Budget constraints allowed only 1 patrol boat and 2 inland tender classes to be commissioned before the 1960s
The Coast Guard relied on ships the Navy was decommissioning to fill the ranks
These Navy ships were newer than the old Cutters they were replacing
The Coast Guard also acquired Eagle in 1946
The Coast Guard acquired 12 Edsall-Class DEs to man OWS during the Korean War
CGC Courier performed a special mission for many years in the 50s and 60s
The budget strings loosened in the 1960s and 9 new classes were commissioned
The 1970s brought surface effect ships into the Fleet
The 1980s brought 2 new white hulls (the first in 20 years) and a new class of tugs

250′ Lake Class Patrol Gunboat
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

327′ Secretary/Treasury 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 upgunned with 4 5″/38s for antiair 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

255′ Owasco/Lake Class
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

311′ Casco Class
Acquired from the Navy for OWS duty
Originally classified as Light Seaplane Tenders
The first 3 were “given” to the Coast Guard and were renamed
The rest were “loaned” to the Coast Guard and retained
their navy names
The 311s were officially referred to as the Casco Class
With crew reduced to post-war standards berthing was palatial
With aviation fuel tanks changed to ship service fuel tanks
the ships could cruise forever
Reclassified as High Endurance Cutters in 1967
Many turned over to Vietnam in 1972
All but 1 decommissioned in 1972
Unimak served until 1988
Model: Yes

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