The Iris-classbuoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Firebush cost $926,446 to construct and had an overall length of 180 feet (55 m). She had a beam of 37 feet (11 m) and a draft of up to 12 feet (3.7 m) at the time of construction, although this was increased to 14 feet 7 inches (4.45 m) in 1966. She initially had a displacement of 935 long tons (950 t); this was increased to 1,026 long tons (1,042 t) in 1966. She was powered by one electric motor. This was connected up to two Westinghouse generators which were driven by two Cooper Bessemer GND-8 four-cycle diesel engines. The vessel had a single screw.[2]
The Iris-class buoy tenders had maximum sustained speeds of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), although this diminished to around 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) in 1966. For economic and effective operation, they had to initially operate at 8.3 knots (15.4 km/h; 9.6 mph), although this increased to 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) in 1966. The ships had a complement of six officers and seventy-four crew members in 1945; this decreased to two warrants, four officers, and forty-seven men in 1966. They were fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE-3A sonar system in 1945. Their armament consisted of one 3"/50 caliber gun, two 20 mm/80-caliber guns, two Mousetraps, two depth charge tracks, and four Y-guns in 1945; these were removed in 1966.[2]
Firebush was first assigned to the 3rd Coast Guard District and homeported in St. George, Staten Island, and later to Governors Island, New York, where she was used for ATON duties during the end of World War II.[1] In June 1979, she was transferred to Kodiak, Alaska to assist with ATON in Alaskan waters. During her time there, she tended 140 aids to navigation including 83 buoys. In May 2003, Firebush was decommissioned and turned over to the Nigerian Navy.[1]
uscgc, firebush, iris, class, buoy, tender, belonging, united, states, coast, guard, launched, february, 1944, commissioned, july, 1944, eventually, transferred, nigerian, navy, june, 2003, renamed, nwamba, underwayhistoryunited, statesnamefirebushbuilderzenit. USCGC Firebush WLB 393 was an Iris class buoy tender belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 3 February 1944 and commissioned on 20 July 1944 1 She was eventually transferred to the Nigerian Navy in June 2003 and renamed Nwamba USCGC Firebush underwayHistoryUnited StatesNameFirebushBuilderZenith Dredge CorporationLaid down12 November 1943Launched3 February 1944Commissioned20 July 1944Decommissioned26 May 2003FateTransferred to Nigerian Navy 30 June 2003BadgeNigeriaNameNwambaCommissioned30 June 2003IdentificationMMSI number 657710000StatusActive as of July 2015General characteristicsClass and typeIris class buoy tenderDisplacement935 long tons 950 t Length180 ft 55 m Beam47 ft 1 in 14 35 m Draft12 ft 3 7 m Propulsion1 electric motor connected to 2 Westinghouse generators driven by 2 Cooper Bessemer type GND 8 4 cycle diesels single screwSpeed8 3 kn 15 4 km h 9 6 mph cruising 13 kn 24 km h 15 mph maximumComplement6 officers 74 enlistedArmament1 3 inch gun 2 20 mm 80 gun 2 depth charge tracks 2 Mousetraps 4 Y guns Contents 1 Design 2 Career 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDesign editThe Iris class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite class buoy tenders Firebush cost 926 446 to construct and had an overall length of 180 feet 55 m She had a beam of 37 feet 11 m and a draft of up to 12 feet 3 7 m at the time of construction although this was increased to 14 feet 7 inches 4 45 m in 1966 She initially had a displacement of 935 long tons 950 t this was increased to 1 026 long tons 1 042 t in 1966 She was powered by one electric motor This was connected up to two Westinghouse generators which were driven by two Cooper Bessemer GND 8 four cycle diesel engines The vessel had a single screw 2 The Iris class buoy tenders had maximum sustained speeds of 13 knots 24 km h 15 mph although this diminished to around 11 9 knots 22 0 km h 13 7 mph in 1966 For economic and effective operation they had to initially operate at 8 3 knots 15 4 km h 9 6 mph although this increased to 8 5 knots 15 7 km h 9 8 mph in 1966 The ships had a complement of six officers and seventy four crew members in 1945 this decreased to two warrants four officers and forty seven men in 1966 They were fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE 3A sonar system in 1945 Their armament consisted of one 3 50 caliber gun two 20 mm 80 caliber guns two Mousetraps two depth charge tracks and four Y guns in 1945 these were removed in 1966 2 Career editInternational radio call sign ofUSCGC Firebush WLB 393 1 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp November Oscar Delta LimaFirebush was first assigned to the 3rd Coast Guard District and homeported in St George Staten Island and later to Governors Island New York where she was used for ATON duties during the end of World War II 1 In June 1979 she was transferred to Kodiak Alaska to assist with ATON in Alaskan waters During her time there she tended 140 aids to navigation including 83 buoys In May 2003 Firebush was decommissioned and turned over to the Nigerian Navy 1 See also editList of United States Coast Guard cuttersReferences edit a b c d USCG Firebush USCG US Coast Guard Retrieved 26 July 2015 a b Firebush United States Coast Guard Retrieved 24 August 2015 External links editHistoric American Engineering Record HAER No AK 45 U S Coast Guard Cutter FIREBUSH Kodiak Kodiak Island Borough AK 4 data pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USCGC Firebush amp oldid 1153132714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
