Return to By Era

The Revenue Cutter Service

The Navy officially recognizes 13 October 1775 as its birthday
But the Continental Navy was disbanded in 1783
The RCS was established on 14 August 1790
and was the only naval force available to the new United States
The first major test of the new nation came with tensions with former ally France
The Naval Act of 1794 led to the establishment of the US Navy
and the construction of 6 frigates

The First Ten
Model: No

Designation Name Rig Service Comments Pictures
USRC Massachusetts Schooner 1791 – 1792 Traditionally considered the first Revenue Cutter
Built at Newburyport and served in Boston – launched 15 July 1791
Proved too costly to operate and too slow to carry out her duties
Replaced in 1793 by the second RC Massachusetts		 CGH
USRC Vigilant Schooner 1791 – 1798 First Revenue Cutter actually in the water – March 1791
Built and served in New York
First patrol was not until December 1791
USRC Active Topsail Schooner 1791 – 1800 First Revenue Cutter actually on patrol – 9 April 1791
Built and served in Baltimore
USRC General Green Schooner 1791 – 1797 Built and served in Philadelphia – first patrol 7 July 1791
The cutter was named for Rev War hero General Nathaniel Greene
but Hamilton misspelled the name
USRC Scammell Schooner 1791 – 1798 Built and served in New England – 24 August 1791
Named for the Rev War Adjutant General of the Army Alexander Scammell
but Hamilton misspelled the name – again
Commanded by Hopley Yeaton – the first commissioned officer of the RCS
USRC Argus Sloop 1791 – 1804 Built in New London – served in CT and RI – first patrol 16 October 1791
USRC Virginia Schooner 1791 – 1798 Built and served in Virginia – little other documentation exists
Was preceded in her duties by 2 state revenue cutters, Liberty and Patriot
USRC Diligence Schooner 1792 – 1798 Built in Washington, NC and served in New Bern – first patrol summer 1792
USRC South Carolina Schooner 1793 – 1798 Built and served in South Carolina
South Carolina did not wish to support the national custom laws
and so delayed construction of the cutter until 1793
It is likely that the customs officer chartered a vessel until the cutter was built
USRC Eagle Schooner 1793 – 1799 Built and served in Savannah

58′ Diligence Class Schooner
Heavily armed for the Quasi War with France
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Diligence 1797 – 1802 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France
USRC Governor Jay 1798 – 1799 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France

77′ Eagle Class Brig
Heavily armed for the Quasi War with France
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Eagle 1798 – 1801 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France CGH
USRC Pickering 1798 – 1800 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France
Disappeared at sea

60′ Search Class Topsail Schooner
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Search 1815 – 1820
USRC Detector 1815 – 1825

56′ Surprise Class Topsail Schooner
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Surprise 1815 – 1817
USRC Dallas 1816 – 1821

52′ Alabama Class Topsail Schooner
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Alabama 1819 – 1833
USRC Louisiana 1819 – 1824 NA Wiki

78′ Marion Class Schooner
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Marion (later Madison) 1825 – 1833
USRC Pulaski 1825 – 1833
USRC Madison (former Marion) 1833 – 1850

78′ Morris-Taney Class Topsail Schooner
Most numerous class of Revenue Cutters
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Crawford 1830 – 1835
USRC Gallatin 1830 – 1849
USRC Alexander Hamilton 1830 – 1853 CGH
USRC Dexter 1830 – 1941
USRC Rush (aka Richard Rush) 1831 – 1840
USRC Morris 1831 – 1846 Wik
USRC Wolcott 1831 – 1851
USRC Ingham 1832 – 1836
USRC Washington 1832 – 1837
USRC McLane (aka Louis McLane) 1832 – 1840
USRC Jackson 1832 – 1865
USRC Jefferson (later Crawford) 1833 – 1839
USRC Taney (aka Roger B. Taney) 1834 – 1858
USRC Crawford (former Jefferson) 1839 – 1847

160′ Ericson Screw Class
One of the first classes of steam cutters – failures
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Legare 1844 – 1847
USRC Jefferson 1845 – 1849

160′ Hunter Horizontal Screw Class
One of the first classes of steam cutters – Failures
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Spencer 1844 – 1848 CGH
USRC George M. Bibb 1845 – 1847
USRC McLane 1845 – 1847
USRC Dallas 1846 – 1848

Polk Class Paddle-wheel Steamer
One of the first classes of steam cutters – Failures
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Polk 1845 – 1847 Rebuilt as a barkentine
USRC Walker (aka Robert J. Walker) 1847 – 1848

102′ Campbell/Joe Lane Class Topsail Schooner
Campbell’s name was changed to Joe Lane
This changed the name of the class
Model: Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Morris 1847 – 1868
USRC Campbell (later Joe Lane) 1849 – 1855 CGH
USRC Crawford 1849 – 1869
USRC Duane (aka William J. Duane) 1850 – 1861
USRC Joe Lane (former Campbell) 1855 – 1869 CGH

Harrison Class Topsail Schooner
Designed specifically for the Great Lakes
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Harrison 1849 – 1856
USRC Ingham 1849 – 1856

91′ Cushing Class Topsail Schooner
Named for members of Franklin Pierce’s cabinet
Model:Yes

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Cushing (aka Caleb Cushing) 1853 – 1863 Captured by the Confederacy
USRC Campbell (aka James Campbell) 1853 – 1879
USRC Davis (aka Jefferson Davis) 1853 – 1862
USRC Dobbin (aka James C. Dobbin) 1853 – 1876 First Training ship in 1876
USRC Marcy (aka William A. Marcy) 1853 – 1862
USRC McClelland (aka Robert McClelland) 1853 – 1861

57′ Cobb Class Schooner
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Cobb (aka Howell Cobb) 1857 – 1861 Lost in a storm
USRC Black (aka Jeremiah S. Black) 1857 – 1861
USRC Brown (aka Aaron V. Brown) 1857 – 1864
USRC Floyd (aka John B. Floyd) 1857 – 1864
USRC Thompson (aka Jacob Thompson) 1857 – 1870
USRC Toucey (aka Isaac Toucey) 1857 – 1869

Harriet Lane Class Side-Wheeler
First successful steam cutter
At Fort Sumpter, fired across the bow of merchantman Nashville
First naval shot of Civil War
Operated against Fort Clark and For Hatteras
Supported actions against Vicksburg and at Mobile Bay
Participated in capture of Galveston in October 1862
Captured when CSA retook Galveston in January 1863
Finished the war as a blockade runner named Livinia
Returned to Federal service after the war
Sold as unserviceable in 1864
Became merchantman Elliott Richie
Lost in a storm in 1887
Model: Yes

Designation Name Rig Service Comments Pictures
USRC Harriet Lane Side-wheeler 1857 – 1861 CGH

100′ Hercules Class Steam Tug
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Hercules 1861 – 1864
USRC Reliance 1861 – 1865
USRC Tiger 1861 – 1865

138′ Pawtuxet Class Topsail Schooner
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Pawtuxet 1863 – 1867
USRC Kewanee 1863 – 1867 To Japan
USRC Wayanda 1863 – 1873
USRC Ashuelot 1863 – 1897 To Japan
USRC Levi Woodbury (former Mahoning) 1873 – 1915 Longest serving Revenue Cutter Wik
USRC Kankakee 1864 – 1867 To Japan
USRC Mahoning (late Levi Woodbury) 1863 – 1873

170′ Chase Class Side-Wheeler
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Chase (aka Salmon P. Chase) 1865 – 1875
USRC Johnson (aka Andrew Johnson) 1865 – 1897
USRC McCulloch (aka Hugh McCulloch) 1865 – 1875
USRC Sherman (aka John Sherman) 1866 – 1872
USRC Fessenden (aka William P. Fessenden) 1869 – 1907 CGH

90′ Active Class Schooner
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Active 1867 – 1875
USRC Resolute 1867 – 1872

110′ Reliance Class Topsail Schooner
One of the last classes of sail cutters acquired
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Reliance 1867 – 1874 One of the last all-sail cutters acquired
USRC Vigilant 1867 – 1870 One of the last all-sail cutters acquired

92′ Relief Class Schooner
One of the last classes of sail cutters acquired
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Relief 1867 – 1870 One of the last all-sail cutters acquired
USRC Rescue 1867 – 1874 One of the last all-sail cutters acquired

38′ Search Class Steam Launch
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Search 1869 – 1896
USRC Discover 1869 – 1896

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 in 1939 for WWII service
Hull number assigned and classified Patrol Gunboat
Decommissioned in 1947
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Gresham 1897 – 1935
1943 – 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 Onondaga 1898 – 1923 NA CGH
USRC Algonquin 1898 – 1930 NA CGH
USRC Manning 1898 – 1930 NA CGH
USRC Mohawk 1904 – 1917 Sunk in collision with SS Vennacher CGH

190′ Miami Class
Commissioned as Revenue Cutters without hull numbers
Classified Cruising Cutters in 1915
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Miami
later Tampa)		 1912 – 1916 NA CGH
NS
USRC 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 Unalga 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

96′ Winnisimmet Class
Model: No

Designation Name Service Comments Pictures
USRC Winnisimmet 1903 – 1945 NA CGH
USRC Wissahickon 1904 – 1935

Training Cutters
Dobbin: Model: Yes

Designation Name Class Service Comments Pictures
USRC Dobbin Cushing 91 1876 – 1881 Stationed in Savannah at the start of the Civil War
The only Revenue Cutter to escape to the North
23 years as a patrol cutter
1876: became the first Academy training cutter in New Bedford
1878: Replaced at the Academy by Chase and returned to patrol duty		 CGH
USRC Chase
(aka Salmon P. Chase)		 Misc RC 115/145 1878 – 1907 Designed specifically to replace Dobbin as the Academy training cutter
Patrol cutter from 1890 to 1894 when Naval Academy provided USRC officers
The 1895 expansion of the navy brought that agreement to an end
Sudden need for RC officers
Chase cut in half and lengthened by 40′ to accommodate more cadets
1907: Decommissioned, turned over to Marine-Hospital Service as a quarantine ship		 CGH
USRC/USCGC Oriole
(ex USS Dale)		 USS Dale Class 1906 – 1921 Commissioned into the Navy in 1869 as the sloop of war Dale
Transferred to the RCS in 1906 as a barracks ship for the Academy
USRC/USCGC Itasca
(Ex USS Bancroft)		 187 USS Bancroft Class 1907 – 1922 Commissioned in the Navy in 1893 as a training ship
Transferred to RCS as Itasca to replace the aging Chase
Third Academy training cutter
Academy and cutter moved to New London in 1910
USRC became USCG in 1915
By 1922 too cramped to be effective		 CGH

Misc One-of-a-Kind Revenue Cutters
The RCS often purchased existing vessels rather than build new
This saved money, but made for a long list of one-of cutters
Model:
Eagle 1809: Model: Yes
Alert 1818: Yes

Designation Name Rig Service Comments Pictures
USRC Massachusetts Sloop 1793 – 1804 When the original Massachusetts proved expensive to operate
a replacement was immediately ordered
Massachusetts became the 11th Revenue Cutter
USRC General Greene Sloop 1797 – 1802
USRC Governor Gillman 72′ Schooner 1798 – 1801 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France
USRC Maria Schooner 1798 – 1800
USRC Pinckney 62′ Brigantine 1798 – 1800
USRC Scammell 58′ Brig 1798 – 1801
USRC South Carolina 58′ Topsail Schooner 1798 – 1803 One of 7 cutters built for the Quasi War with France
USRC Unanimity Chartered brig 1798 – 1798
USRC Woodbury
(aka Levi Woodbury)		 Schooner 1798 – 1851
USRC Bee Sloop 1799 – 1801 Captured from France in Quasi War
USRC Patriot Unknown 1800 – 1805
USRC Massachusetts 58′ Topsail Schooner 1801 – 1814
USRC St. Marys Lateen Galley 1801 – Unk
USRC Collector Sloop 1802 – 1806
USRC General Greene Sloop 1802 – 1808
USRC Governor Williams 52′ Lateen Galley 1802 – 1806 Lost at sea
USRC Jefferson Schooner 1802 – 1817
USRC New Hampshire Unknown 1802 – 1816
USRC Vigilant Unknown 1802 – 1807
USRC Virginia Lateen Galley 1802 – 1807
USRC Diligence Unknown 1803 – 1806 Lost in hurricane
USRC Argus Unknown 1804 – 1809
USRC Louisiana 70′ Schooner 1804 – 1812
USRC Dolly Brig 1805 – 1807 Most heavily armed RC (14 6 pounders)
But too large for revenue work
USRC Hornet
(ex USS Hornet)		 Unknown 1805 – 1806
USRC Gallatin Unknown 1807 – 1813 Destroyed in a magazine explosion
First “documented” casualties of the RCS
USRC James Madison Schooner 1807 – 1812 Captured by the British
USRC Madison
(aka James Madison)		 Schooner 1807 – 1812 Captured by the British
USRC Mercury Topsail Schooner 1807 – 1820
USRC Surveyor Unknown 1807 – 1813 Commanded by CAPT Samuel Travis with a crew of 15
Attacked by 50 man party from LT John Crerie’s HMS Narcissus
Captured by British after a fierce fight
Crerie returned Travis’s sword in honor of the fight the crew put up
Commemorated in Semper Paratus
Commemorated in Semper Paratus
USRC Virginia Schooner 1807 – Unk
USRC Hazard Unknown 1808 – 1808
USRC Sally Chartered 1808 – 1808
USRC Thorn Chartered 1808 – 1808
USRC Union Chartered 1808 – 1808
USRC Argus Unknown 1809 – 1812
USRC Eagle Topsail Schooner 1809 – 1814 Commanded by CAPT Fredrick Lee
Escorted merchantmen around New York
Attacked by 18 gun brig HMS Dispatch in 1814
Ran aground trying to escape
Crew hauled cannons to top of a 160′ cliff and took Dispatch under fire
When all ammunition was expended the crew withdrew to safety
British seized the grounded cutter whose ultimate fate is unknown
Commemorated in Semper Paratus
USRC Poly Chartered topsail schooner 1809 – 1809
USRC Potomac Chartered 1809 – 1809
USRC William and John Chartered schooner 1809 – 1809
USRC Independence Chartered? 1810 – 1810
USRC Express Chartered Sloop 1809 – 1809
USRC Pilgrim Chartered 1811 – 1811
USRC Active Chartered 1812 – 1817
USRC Hardwicke Chartered 1809 – 1809 Chartered for only 12 days
USRC Commodore Barry Schooner 1812 – 1812 Captured by the British
USRC George Chartered Sloop 1812 – 1812
USRC Vigilant 60′ Schooner 1812 – 1842
USRC Lynx Chartered 1814 – 1819
USRC Gallatin Unknown 1815 – 1824
USRC Active Unknown 1816 – 1825
USRC Eagle Schooner 1816 – 1829
USRC South Carolina Unknown 1816 – Unk
USRC Monroe Unknown 1817 – 1825
USRC Alert 58′ Schooner 1818 – 1829
USRC Hornet Schooner 1818 – 1826
USRC Lookout Unknown 1819 – 1825
USRC Portsmouth 60′ Schooner 1820 – 1829
USRC Search Schooner 1820 – 1830
USRC Crawford Unknown 1821 – 1829 Lost at sea
USRC Florida 63′ Topsail Schooner 1822 – 1831
USRC Vigilant
(later Dallas)		 Schooner 1824 – 1836
USRC Detector 52′ Schooner 1825 – 1832
USRC Louisiana Unknown 1825 – 1830
USRC Swiftsure
(later Crawford)		 Unknown 1825 – 1835
USRC Wasp 52′ Schooner 1825 – 1831
USRC Rush
(aka Benjamin Rush)		 Unknown 1828 – 1833
USRC Alert 74′ Schooner 1829 – 1853
USRC Engineer Unknown 1829 – 1830
USRC Argus 39′ Unknown 1830 – 1834 She was decked and had a pink stern
USRC Campbell Sloop 1830 – 1834
USRC Sam Patch Chartered 1830 – 1830 Lost
USRC Teazer 37′ Unknown 1830 – Unk
USRC Veto 49′ Topsail Schooner 1832 – 1850
USRC Benjamin Rush Unknown 1833 – 1833
USRC Erie Schooner 1833 – 1849
USRC Campbell Unknown 1834 – 1839
USRC Stoddert Unknown 1834 – Unk
USRC Crawford
(former Swiftsure)		 Unknown 1835 – 1839
USRC Nautilus 76′ Unknown 1838 – 1859
USRC Washington 91′ Schooner
re-rigged to brig		 1938 – 1840
USRC Jefferson 84′ Brigantine 1839 – 1843
USRC Van Buren Unknown 1839 – 1847
USRC Duane
(aka William J. Duane)		 Unknown 1841 – 1844
USRC Ewing 91
(aka Thomas Ewing)		 Schooner 1841 – 1852
USRC Forward 89′
(aka Walter Forward)		 Topsail Schooner 1842 – 1865
USRC Active Unknown 1843 – 1847
USRC Ingham Unknown 1843 – 1848
USRC Vigilant 56′ Unknown 1843 – 1844 Lost in hurricane
USRC Independence 42′ Unknown 1848 – 1848
USRC Argus Unknown 1850 – 1853
USRC Frolic Chartered 1851 – 1853
USRC Sea Drift Unknown 1853 – 1857
USRC Aiken
(aka William Aiken)		 Schooner 1855 – 1860 Captured by CSA
USRC Dodge 80′
(aka Henry Dodge)		 Schooner 1855 – 1862
USLHT Buchanan Schooner 1856 – 1860 Captured by the Confederacy
USRC Phillip Allen 80′
(later CSS Lewis Cass)		 Topsail Schooner 1856 – 1860 Turned over to CSA
USRC Appleton Schooner 1858 – 1861 To the Navy
USRC Agassiz 58′ Schooner 1861 – 1865
USRC Arago Unknown 1861 – 1863 Borrowed from Coast Survey for temporary duty
USRC Bibb 160′ Barkentine
(3 masted)		 1861 – 1861 Rebuilt from horizontal screw failure
USRC Corwin 125′
(aka Thomas Corwin)		 Side-wheeler 1861 – 1861
USRC Henrietta Schooner 1861 – 1862 James Gordon Bennett’s personal yacht
He commanded her while in USRCS service
Later belonged to New York Yacht Club
Won Great Ocean Transatlantic Race in 1866		 CGH
USRC Hope 85′ Chartered Schooner 1861 – 1861
USRC Sumner Chartered 1861 – 1861
USRC Varina Unknown 1861 – 1870 Obtained from Coast Survey
Returned to Coast Survey
Later sank
USRC Vixen 118′ Side-wheeler 1861 – 1861 Seized from Mexico – Turned over to the Navy
USRC Cruiser Chartered 1862 – 1862
USRC Flora 162′
(later Nemaha)		 Side-wheeler 1862 – 1864
USRC Joe Miller Chartered 1862 – 1862 Chartered – short term
USRC Miami 115′ Steam schooner 1862 – 1871
USRC Naugatuck 101′
(aka EA Stevens, Ironside)		 Steamship 1862 – 1870 Built in 1844 by H. R. Durham
Acquired by Edwin Stevens
Stevens intended to develop a semi-submersible ironclad
It would present a difficult target in the submerged state
Converted Naugatuck into a prototype “Stevens Battery”
Turned over to the RCS for trials
Used by the Navy in the Civil War to some success
But not enough to fund further development
Served the RCS until 1870
Ultimate fate unknown		 CGH
USRC Winants
(aka G. L. Winants)		 Steamship 1862 – 1863
USRC Bronx 119′ Steam harbor vessel 1863 – 1873 Sank
USRC Cuyahoga 139′ Three masted schooner 1863 – 1867 To Japan
USRC Antietam Topsail Schooner 1864 – 1870
USRC Hector Chartered 1864 – 1864 Chartered for 30 days
USRC Nemaha 162′
(former Flora)		 Side-wheeler 1864 – 1868
USRC Northerner 135′
(later Ewing)		 Side-wheeler 1864 – 1872
USRC Seward 137′
(aka George Seward)		 Unknown 1864 – 1901
USRC Wilderness 137′
(later Dix
(aka John A. Dix))		 Side-wheeler 1864 – 1873
USRC Winslow Chartered steam tug 1864 – 1864
USRC Commodore Perry 166′ Side-wheeler 1865 – 1883
USRC Delaware 153′
(later Louis McLane)		 Side-wheeler 1865 – 1873
USRC Lincoln 165′ Steam schooner 1865 – 1874
USRC Moccasin
(ex USS Hero)
(later George M. Bibb)		 Steam tug 1865 – 1881
USRC Nansemond 146′
(later Crawford)		 Side-wheeler 1865 – 1873
USRC Sunnyside Unknown 1865 – Unk
USRC Uno 79′
(ex USS Juniper)
(later Peter J. Washington)		 Unknown 1865 – 1873
USRC Hamlin 85′
(aka Harry Hamlin)		 Steam harbor vessel 1866 – 1899
USRC Jasmine 79′
(later Chandler
(aka William E. Chandler))		 Steam tug 1866 – 1873
USRC Mosswood 123′
(ex USS Mosswood)
(later McCullough
(aka Hugh McCullough))		 Steamship 1866 – 1877
USRC Petrel 87′ Schooner 1867 – 1873
USRC Racer 87′ Schooner 1867 – 1873
USRC Guthrie 85′
(aka James Guthrie)
(ex George W. Loane)		 Steam tug 1868 – 1882
USRC Colfax 140′ Side-wheeler 1871 – 1899
USRC Gallatin
(aka Albert Gallatin)		 Steam topsail schooner 1871 – 1892 Sank
USRC Hamilton 133′ Topsail Schooner 1871 – 1906
USRC Grant 163′
(aka U.S. Grant)		 Steam schooner 1872 – 1906
USRC Saville Unknown 1872 – 1884 Lost
USRC Boutwell 138′
(aka George S. Boutwell)		 Steam topsail schooner 1873 – 1907
USRC Chandler 99′
(aka William E. Chandler)
(former Jasmine)		 Steam tug 1873 – 1903
USRC Crawford 146′
(former Nansemond)		 Side-wheeler 1873 – 1897
USRC Dix 137′
(aka John A. Dix)
(former Wilderness)		 Side-wheeler 1873 – 1891
USRC McLane 153′
(aka Louis McLane)
(former Delaware)		 Side-wheeler 1873 – 1902
USRC Vanderbilt 30′ Unknown 1873 – 1891
USRC Wolcott 155′
(aka Oliver Wolcott)		 Steam schooner 1873 – 1897
USRC Dallas 140′ Steamship 1874 – 1907
USRC Dexter 143′ Schooner 1874 – 1908
USRC Report 37′ Sloop 1874 – 1887
USRC Rush Schooner 1874 – 1885
USRC Ewing 135′
(former Northerner)		 Side-wheeler 1875 – 1895
USRC Hartley 64′
(aka John F. Hartley)		 Unknown 1875 – 1914
USRC Tench Coxe Steam harbor vessel 1876 – 1893
USRC Alert 48′ Sloop 1877 – 1896
USRC Corwin 140′
(aka Thomas Corwin)		 Steamship 1877 – 1898
USRC McCullouch
(aka Hugh McCullouch)
(ex USS Mosswood)
(former Mosswood)		 Steamship 1877 – 1888
USRC George M. Bibb 104′
(former Moccasin)
(ex USS Hero)		 Steam tug 1881 – 1890
USRC Forward 155′
(aka Walter Forward)		 Steam schooner 1882 – 1912
USRC Guthrie 85′
(aka James Guthrie)		 Steam tug 1882 – 1894
USRC Hawley
(aka John B. Hawley)		 Steam launch 1883 – 1889
USRC/USCGC Penrose 67′ Steam Tug 1883 – 1924
USRC Perry 165′ Steam schooner 1884 – 1910 Wrecked on reef
USRC Rush 175′ Topsail Schooner 1885 – 1912
USRC Smith Steam tug 1887 – 1899
USRC/USCGC Morrill 145′
(aka Lot M. Morrill)		 1889 – 1928
USRC Ruby Chartered steam barge 1890 – 1891
USRC Frank Sperry Sloop 1891 – 1905
USRC Galveston 190′
(aka Frank S. Galveston)
(later Apache)		 Steamship 1891 – 1900
USRC Sperry
(aka Frank Sperry)		 Sloop 1891 – 1905
USRC/USCGC Hudson 96′ Steam Tug 1893 – 1935 First RC with steel hull and triple-expansion plating
Rescued USS Winslow in Spanish American War
CO, LT Frank Newcomb, not awarded Medal of Honor
because RCS was not “military”
A Fletcher Class DD was named for Newcomb
Commemorated in Semper Paratus		 CGH
USRC/USCGC Manhattan 102′
(later Arundel)		 Steam Tug 1873 – 1917 CGH
USRC/USCGC Calumet 94′
(later Tioga)		 Steam Tug 1894 – 1934 Served in WWII CGH
USRC/USCGC Guthrie 87′
(aka James Guthrie)		 Steam Tug 1895 – 1941 Served in WWII
USRC Guard 65′ Steam harbor vessel 1896 – 1912
USRC/USCGC Scout 65′ Steam Launch 1896 – 1915
USRC Hugh McCullouch Unknown 1897 – ??
USRC/USCGC McCullouch 219′ Steam Barkentine 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 Golden Gate 110′ Steam Tug 1897 – 1945 Stationed in San Francisco
Played major role after the 1906 earthquake
Served in WWI and WWII
USRC/USCGC Windom 170′
(later Comanche)		 1897 – 1914 The RCS 1897 Annual report noted that
Windom was the first attempt to build a “modern” cutter
Windom was completed in 1896
Fully watertight hull
longitudinal and transverse bulkheads
triple expansion steam plant capable of 15 kts
Fought in the Spanish-American War and WWI
Renamed Comanche in 1914		 CGH
USRC Nunivak 209′ Stern-wheeler 1899 – 1901
USRC/USCGC Thetis 188′ 1899 – 1916
USRC/USCGC Apache 190′
(former Galveston
aka Frank Galveston)		 Steam Tug 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
USRC/USCGC Delmarva Steam Launch 1900 – 1934 Designated AB 22 in Coast Guard service
USRC/USCGC Seminole 188′ Steam Tug 1900 – 1934 CGH
USRC Alert 62′ Steamship 1901 – 1907
USRC/USCGC Tuscarora 178′ 1902 – 1936 CGH
USRC/USCGC Arcata 85′ 1903 – 1936
USRC/USCGC Mackinac 110′ Steam Tug 1903 – 1939
USRC/USCGC Patrol 36′ Steam Launch 1905 – 1915
USRC/USCGC Carolina 56′ 1906 – 1921
USRC/USCGC Alert 61′ 1907 – 1920 Replaced 1901 Alert
USRC/USCGC Pamlico 158′ 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
Alex Haley helped dedicate a plaque commemorating her service
in New Bern on 28 April 1990		 CGH
USRC/USCGC Acushnet 152′ 1908 – 1936 NA 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′ Steam Tug 1908 – 1934 NA CGH
USRC/USCGC Davey 92′ Steam Tug 1908 – 1945 Served in WWII
USRC/USCGC Guide 70′ Steam Tug 1908 – 1926 First Cutter with internal combustion engine
USRC/USCGC Moriches 32′ Steam Launch 1908 – 1918
USRC/USCGC Tahoma 191′ 1909 – 1914 Grounded and was lost
USRC/USCGC Yamacraw 191′ 1909 – 1937 CGH
USRC/USCGC Vigilant 45′ Steam Launch 1910 – 1940 Designated AB45 in Coast Guard service
USRC/USCGC Guard 67′ Steam Tug 1913 – 1943 Served in WWII
USRC/USCGC Comanche 170′
(former Windom)		 1914 – 1930 The RCS 1897 Annual report noted that
Windom was the first attempt to build a “modern” cutter
Windom was completed in 1896
Fully watertight hull,
longitudinal and transverse bulkheads
triple expansion steam plant capable of 15 kts
Fought in the Spanish-American War and WWI
Renamed Comanche in 1914		 CGH
USRC/USCGC Scout 61′
(aka AB 11)		 1914 – 1930
USRC/USCGC Search 40′
(aka AB 12)		 1914 – 1930