The USCG seagoing buoy tender is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter used to service aids to navigation throughout the waters of the United States and wherever American shipping interests require. The U.S. Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in the U.S. Lighthouse Service (USLHS). These ships originally were designated with the hull classification symbolWAGL, but in 1965 the designation was changed to WLB, which is still used today.
Six U.S. Army mine planters built 1917–1919 were transferred to the U.S. Light House Service during a reduction in the Army in the early 1920s. These, after absorption into the U.S. Coast Guard, became that service's "Speedwell class":[1]
Lupine (WAGL-230), ex USAMP Gen. Wallace F. Randolph
Speedwell (WAGL-245), ex USAMP Col. John V. White
Spruce (WAGL-246), ex USAMP Col. Garland N. Whistler
The ships were 172 feet (52.4 m) in length, 32 feet (9.8 m) beam with 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 m) draft displacing 1,130 tons.[2] Early mine planters, at first termed "torpedo planters," had been modeled after USLHS vessels which had similar requirements for handling heavy loads alongside the vessels so that mine planters were easily converted to buoy work.[3]
Ex U.S. Army Chimo-class 188' mine planters 1942–1943edit
Built from 1942 to 1943 by Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, these 188-foot (57 m) U.S Army mine planters were designed for diesel engines but low pressure steam plants were installed instead. Six of the vessels were transferred to the U.S. Navy as the Chimo class. Five vessels were later transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and refitted as the Jonquil class of buoy tenders were after World War II.
Two classes of purpose-built, rather than refitted mine planters, Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders have been produced. The first was the 180 ft-class cutters, which were 180 feet (55 m) long. Thirty-nine of these vessels were built from 1942–1944. All but one were constructed in the shipyards of Duluth, Minnesota. The 180 fleet, many of which served for more than 50 years, all went through different mid-life modifications that essentially resulted in three different classes of ship. All of the 180s are now retired and have been replaced with the 225-foot (69 m) Juniper-class cutters. The last 180-foot cutter, USCGC Acacia, was decommissioned on 7 June 2006.
The Juniper class ships, launched in the late 1990s, are the second class of purpose-built Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders. They are designed and operated as multi-mission platforms. While the 180s also performed other Coast Guard missions, they lacked the speed, communications, navigation and maneuverability of the new Junipers. Today, the Junipers conduct almost as much law enforcement as aid to navigation work; they are also outfitted to handle oil spill recovery, search and rescue, homeland security, and some ice breaking operations. The Juniper class uses Dynamic Positioning which allows maintenance of the vessel's position within a 10 metres (33 ft) circle in winds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and waves of up to 8 feet (2.4 m).
Jackson, Ramon (20 November 2013). . Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
"225-foot Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB)". Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters: Cutters. United States Coast Guard.
"US Coast Guard 180-Foot Buoy Tenders" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. National Park Service. 2003.
USCG Historian's Office. "Spruce, 1923". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
April 15, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources USCG seagoing buoy tender news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The USCG seagoing buoy tender is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter used to service aids to navigation throughout the waters of the United States and wherever American shipping interests require The U S Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in the U S Lighthouse Service USLHS These ships originally were designated with the hull classification symbol WAGL but in 1965 the designation was changed to WLB which is still used today USCGC Sundew WLB 404 Contents 1 Ex U S Army mine planters 2 Ex U S Army Chimo class 188 mine planters 1942 1943 3 180 class ships 3 1 Class A Cactus 3 2 Class B Mesquite 3 3 Class C Iris 4 225 Juniper class ships 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyEx U S Army mine planters editSix U S Army mine planters built 1917 1919 were transferred to the U S Light House Service during a reduction in the Army in the early 1920s These after absorption into the U S Coast Guard became that service s Speedwell class 1 Acacia WAGL 200 ex USAMP Gen John P Story shelled amp sunk by a German U boat on 15 March 1942 Ilex WAGL 222 ex USAMP Brig Gen Edmund Kirby Lotus WAGL 229 ex USAMP Col Albert Todd Lupine WAGL 230 ex USAMP Gen Wallace F Randolph Speedwell WAGL 245 ex USAMP Col John V White Spruce WAGL 246 ex USAMP Col Garland N WhistlerThe ships were 172 feet 52 4 m in length 32 feet 9 8 m beam with 11 feet 6 inches 3 5 m draft displacing 1 130 tons 2 Early mine planters at first termed torpedo planters had been modeled after USLHS vessels which had similar requirements for handling heavy loads alongside the vessels so that mine planters were easily converted to buoy work 3 Ex U S Army Chimo class 188 mine planters 1942 1943 editBuilt from 1942 to 1943 by Marietta Manufacturing Company Point Pleasant West Virginia these 188 foot 57 m U S Army mine planters were designed for diesel engines but low pressure steam plants were installed instead Six of the vessels were transferred to the U S Navy as the Chimo class Five vessels were later transferred to the U S Coast Guard and refitted as the Jonquil class of buoy tenders were after World War II USAMP General Henry Knox MP 1 USS Picket ACM 8 then USCGC Willow WAGL WLB 332 USAMP Colonel Henry J Hunt MP 2 USS Bastion ACM 6 then USCGC Jonquil WAGL WLB 330 USAMP Colonel George Armistead MP 3 USS Barbican ACM 5 then USCGC Ivy WLB 329 WAGL 329 USAMP 1st Lt William G Sylvester MP 5 USS Obstructor ACM 7 then USCGC Heather WABL WLB 331 USAMP Colonel John Storey MP 8 USS Barricade ACM 3 then USCGC Magnolia WAGL WLB 328 180 class ships editTwo classes of purpose built rather than refitted mine planters Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders have been produced The first was the 180 ft class cutters which were 180 feet 55 m long Thirty nine of these vessels were built from 1942 1944 All but one were constructed in the shipyards of Duluth Minnesota The 180 fleet many of which served for more than 50 years all went through different mid life modifications that essentially resulted in three different classes of ship All of the 180s are now retired and have been replaced with the 225 foot 69 m Juniper class cutters The last 180 foot cutter USCGC Acacia was decommissioned on 7 June 2006 nbsp USCGC Conifer WLB 301 c 1966 nbsp USCGC Mesquite WLB 305 Class A Cactus edit Balsam WLB 62 Cactus WLB 270 Cowslip WLB 277 Woodbine WLB 289 Gentian WLB 290 Laurel WLB 291 Clover WLB 292 Evergreen WLB 295 Sorrel WLB 296 Citrus WLB 300 Conifer WLB 301 Madrona WLB 302 Tupelo WLB 303 Class B Mesquite edit Ironwood WLB 297 Mesquite WLB 305 Buttonwood WLB 306 Planetree WLB 307 Papaw WLB 308 Sweetgum WLB 309 Class C Iris edit Basswood WLB 388 Bittersweet WLB 389 Blackhaw WLB 390 Blackthorn WLB 391 Bramble WLB 392 Firebush WLB 393 Hornbeam WLB 394 Iris WLB 395 Mallow WLB 396 Mariposa WLB 397 Redbud WLB 398 Sagebrush WLB 399 Salvia WLB 400 Sassafras WLB 401 Sedge WLB 402 Spar WLB 403 Sundew WLB 404 Sweetbrier WLB 405 Acacia WLB 406 Woodrush WLB 407 225 Juniper class ships edit nbsp Launch of the Juniper class buoy tender USCGC Oak WLB 211 nbsp USCGC Hollyhock WLB 214 in front of the Renaissance Center in DetroitThe Juniper class ships launched in the late 1990s are the second class of purpose built Coast Guard seagoing buoy tenders They are designed and operated as multi mission platforms While the 180s also performed other Coast Guard missions they lacked the speed communications navigation and maneuverability of the new Junipers Today the Junipers conduct almost as much law enforcement as aid to navigation work they are also outfitted to handle oil spill recovery search and rescue homeland security and some ice breaking operations The Juniper class uses Dynamic Positioning which allows maintenance of the vessel s position within a 10 metres 33 ft circle in winds of up to 30 knots 56 km h 35 mph and waves of up to 8 feet 2 4 m Juniper WLB 201 Willow WLB 202 Kukui WLB 203 Elm WLB 204 Walnut WLB 205 Spar WLB 206 Maple WLB 207 Aspen WLB 208 Sycamore WLB 209 Cypress WLB 210 Oak WLB 211 Hickory WLB 212 Fir WLB 213 Hollyhock WLB 214 Sequoia WLB 215 Alder WLB 216 See also editUSCG coastal buoy tender USCG inland buoy tender USCG inland construction tender USCGC Mackinaw WLBB 30 A single vessel outfitted similar to a Juniper but with an icebreaking hull References edit Grover 1987 p 122 USCG Historian s Office Spruce 1923 Jackson 2013 Bibliography editGrover David 1987 U S Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 766 6 LCCN 87015514 Jackson Ramon 20 November 2013 Army Ships The Ghost Fleet Coast Artillery Corps Army Mine Planter Service Archived from the original on 27 September 2011 Retrieved 30 October 2014 225 foot Seagoing Buoy Tender WLB Aircraft Boats and Cutters Cutters United States Coast Guard US Coast Guard 180 Foot Buoy Tenders PDF Historic American Engineering Record National Park Service 2003 USCG Historian s Office Spruce 1923 United States Coast Guard Retrieved January 14 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USCG seagoing buoy tender amp oldid 1102918684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
