USCGC Point Dume (WPB-82325) was an 82-foot (25 m) Point class cutter constructed at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name cutters under 100 feet (30 m) in length, it was designated as WPB-82325 when commissioned and acquired the name Point Dume in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than 65-foot (20 m).[5][6]
Point Dume was built to accommodate an 8-man crew.[7] She was powered by two 600 hp (447 kW) VT600 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five-bladed 42 in (1.1 m) propellers. The main drive engines were later replaced by 800 hp (597 kW) VT800 Cummins engines. Water tank capacity was 1,550 U.S. gallons (5,900 L) and fuel tank capacity was 1,840 U.S. gallons (7,000 L) at 95% full.[5][7] Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.[8]
The design specifications for Point Dume included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight. Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non-manned main drive engine spaces. Controls and alarms located on the bridge allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer watch in the engine room.[8] Because of design, four men could operate the cutter; however, the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service.[8] The screws were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water. A clutch-in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly.[9] Air-conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter. Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the starboard side aft of the deckhouse. The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer-in-charge and the executive petty officer.[9] The deckhouse also included a small arms locker, scuttlebutt, a small desk and head. Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder. At the bottom of the ladder was the galley, mess and recreation deck. A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed, three bunks on each side. Forward of the bunks was the crew's head complete with a compact sink, shower and commode.[9] Accommodations for a 13-man crew were installed for Vietnam service.[5][6][10][11]
Historyedit
After delivery in 1961, Point Dume was assigned a homeport of Fire Island, New York, where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. In February 1965, she assisted in the search for bodies and debris from Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crash off Long Island.[5]
At the request of the United States Navy, in April 1965, she was alerted for service in South Vietnam and assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One in support of Operation Market Time along with 16 other Point class cutters.[12][13] While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island and Camp Parks, California, Point Dume was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay, Philippines in May 1965 where she was refitted for combat service.[5] Shipyard modifications included installation of new single-sideband radio equipment, additional floodlights, small arms lockers, bunks, additional sound-powered phone circuits, and the addition of 4 M2 machine guns. The original bow mounted machine gun was replaced with a combination over-under .50 caliber machine gun/81mm trigger fired mortar that had been developed by the Coast Guard for service in Vietnam.[4][5][14][15] For service in Vietnam, two officers were added to the crew complement to add seniority to the crew in the mission of interdicting vessels at sea.[16]
Point Dume was assigned to Division 12 of Squadron One to be based at Da Nang, along with USCGC Point Arden, USCGC Point Caution, USCGC Point Ellis, USCGC Point Gammon, USCGC Point Lomas, USCGC Point Orient and USCGC Point Welcome. After sea trials, the Division left Subic Bay for Da Nang on 16 July 1965 in the company of USS Snohomish County, their temporary support ship. After almost two weeks at sea, they arrived at their new duty station on 20 July and began patrolling the coastal waters near Da Nang.[17] Duty consisted of boarding Vietnamese junks to search for contraband weapons and ammunition and check the identification papers of persons on board. Permanent engineering and logistic support of Division 12 was provided by a U.S. Navy non-self-propelled floating workshop, YR-71. During this time, the WPB's were directed to paint the hulls and superstructures formula 20 deck gray to cover the stateside white paint. This increased the effectiveness of night patrols.[18]
While on patrol just south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone in the early morning hours of 16 June 1968 Point Dume reported seeing two rockets fired from an unidentified source hit the Navy Patrol Craft Fast, PCF-19 which sank very quickly with the loss of 5 of the crew.[19] Shortly thereafter, Point Dume came under fire from an unidentified aircraft along with the heavy cruiser USS Boston and the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart. The duration of the attack was about one hour with little damage to the cutter and Boston but considerable damage to Hobart with two of her crew killed and several others injured.[20] Evidence showed later during a board of inquiry that it was a friendly fire incident involving U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft mistaking the ships for enemy targets.[19][21][22] This incident and the 11 August 1966 friendly fire incident involving Point Welcome caused several procedures for the identification of naval vessels by Navy, Marine and Air Force aircrews to change.[23]
On 14 February 1970, Point Dume was turned over to the Republic of Vietnam Navy as part of the Vietnamization of the war effort and recommissioned as RVNS Trường Tiền (HQ-709).[1]
^Commander, Naval Forces Vietnam (June 1968). "Monthly Historical Summary. June 1968" (PDF). Naval Historical Center, U.S. Navy. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
Larzelere, Alex (1997). The Coast Guard at War, Vietnam, 1965-1975. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis. ISBN978-1-55750-529-3.
Marolda, Edward J. (2018). Combat at Close Quarters: An Illustrated History of the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-68247-195-1.
Scheina, Robert L. (1990). U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis. ISBN978-0-87021-719-7.
Scotti, Paul C. (2000). Coast Guard Action in Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served. Hellgate Press, Central Point, Oregon. ISBN978-1-55571-528-1.
Wells II, William R. (August 1997). "The United States Coast Guard's Piggyback 81mm Mortar/.50 cal. machine gun". Vietnam Magazine. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
External linksedit
"Point" Class 82-foot WPBs Coast Guard Historian's website
January 01, 1970
uscgc, point, dume, 82325, foot, point, class, cutter, constructed, coast, guard, yard, curtis, maryland, 1961, enforcement, search, rescue, patrol, boat, since, coast, guard, policy, 1961, name, cutters, under, feet, length, designated, 82325, when, commissio. USCGC Point Dume WPB 82325 was an 82 foot 25 m Point class cutter constructed at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay Maryland in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name cutters under 100 feet 30 m in length it was designated as WPB 82325 when commissioned and acquired the name Point Dume in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than 65 foot 20 m 5 6 History United States NameUSCGC Point Dume WPB 82325 NamesakePoint Dume Malibu California OwnerUnited States Coast Guard BuilderCoast Guard Yard Curtis Bay Maryland Commissioned1 November 1961 Decommissioned14 February 1970 Honors andawardsNavy Unit Commendation 2 Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy 3 Vietnam Service Medal with 2 silver and 1 bronze service stars FateTransferred to Republic of Vietnam Navy as RVNS Trường Tiền HQ 709 14 February 1970 1 General characteristics TypePatrol Boat WPB Displacement60 tons Length82 ft 10 in 25 25 m Beam17 ft 7 in 5 36 m max Draft5 ft 11 in 1 80 m Propulsion2 600 hp 447 kW Cummins diesel engines Speed16 8 knots 31 1 km h 19 3 mph Range577 nmi 1 069 km at 14 5 kn 26 9 km h 16 7 mph 1 271 nmi 2 354 km at 10 7 kn 19 8 km h 12 3 mph ComplementDomestic service 8 men Vietnam service 2 officers 8 men Armament1961 1 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon Vietnam service 5 M2 Browning machine guns 1 81 mm M29 mortar 4 Contents 1 Construction and design details 2 History 3 References 4 External linksConstruction and design details editPoint Dume was built to accommodate an 8 man crew 7 She was powered by two 600 hp 447 kW VT600 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five bladed 42 in 1 1 m propellers The main drive engines were later replaced by 800 hp 597 kW VT800 Cummins engines Water tank capacity was 1 550 U S gallons 5 900 L and fuel tank capacity was 1 840 U S gallons 7 000 L at 95 full 5 7 Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment 8 The design specifications for Point Dume included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non manned main drive engine spaces Controls and alarms located on the bridge allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer watch in the engine room 8 Because of design four men could operate the cutter however the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service 8 The screws were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water A clutch in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly 9 Air conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the starboard side aft of the deckhouse The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer in charge and the executive petty officer 9 The deckhouse also included a small arms locker scuttlebutt a small desk and head Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder At the bottom of the ladder was the galley mess and recreation deck A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed three bunks on each side Forward of the bunks was the crew s head complete with a compact sink shower and commode 9 Accommodations for a 13 man crew were installed for Vietnam service 5 6 10 11 History editAfter delivery in 1961 Point Dume was assigned a homeport of Fire Island New York where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat In February 1965 she assisted in the search for bodies and debris from Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crash off Long Island 5 At the request of the United States Navy in April 1965 she was alerted for service in South Vietnam and assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One in support of Operation Market Time along with 16 other Point class cutters 12 13 While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island and Camp Parks California Point Dume was loaded onto a merchant ship and transported to Subic Bay Philippines in May 1965 where she was refitted for combat service 5 Shipyard modifications included installation of new single sideband radio equipment additional floodlights small arms lockers bunks additional sound powered phone circuits and the addition of 4 M2 machine guns The original bow mounted machine gun was replaced with a combination over under 50 caliber machine gun 81mm trigger fired mortar that had been developed by the Coast Guard for service in Vietnam 4 5 14 15 For service in Vietnam two officers were added to the crew complement to add seniority to the crew in the mission of interdicting vessels at sea 16 Point Dume was assigned to Division 12 of Squadron One to be based at Da Nang along with USCGC Point Arden USCGC Point Caution USCGC Point Ellis USCGC Point Gammon USCGC Point Lomas USCGC Point Orient and USCGC Point Welcome After sea trials the Division left Subic Bay for Da Nang on 16 July 1965 in the company of USS Snohomish County their temporary support ship After almost two weeks at sea they arrived at their new duty station on 20 July and began patrolling the coastal waters near Da Nang 17 Duty consisted of boarding Vietnamese junks to search for contraband weapons and ammunition and check the identification papers of persons on board Permanent engineering and logistic support of Division 12 was provided by a U S Navy non self propelled floating workshop YR 71 During this time the WPB s were directed to paint the hulls and superstructures formula 20 deck gray to cover the stateside white paint This increased the effectiveness of night patrols 18 While on patrol just south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone in the early morning hours of 16 June 1968 Point Dume reported seeing two rockets fired from an unidentified source hit the Navy Patrol Craft Fast PCF 19 which sank very quickly with the loss of 5 of the crew 19 Shortly thereafter Point Dume came under fire from an unidentified aircraft along with the heavy cruiser USS Boston and the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart The duration of the attack was about one hour with little damage to the cutter and Boston but considerable damage to Hobart with two of her crew killed and several others injured 20 Evidence showed later during a board of inquiry that it was a friendly fire incident involving U S Air Force and U S Navy aircraft mistaking the ships for enemy targets 19 21 22 This incident and the 11 August 1966 friendly fire incident involving Point Welcome caused several procedures for the identification of naval vessels by Navy Marine and Air Force aircrews to change 23 On 14 February 1970 Point Dume was turned over to the Republic of Vietnam Navy as part of the Vietnamization of the war effort and recommissioned as RVNS Trường Tiền HQ 709 1 References editNotes a b Scotti p 210 Navy Unit Commendation Mobile Riverine Force Association Archived from the original on 22 January 2002 Retrieved 16 May 2011 Meritorious Unit Commendation Mobile Riverine Force Association Archived from the original on 22 January 2002 Retrieved 16 May 2011 a b William R Wells II The United States Coast Guard s Piggyback 81mm Mortar 50 cal machine gun Vietnam Magazine August 1997 a b c d e f Coast Guard Historian website a b Scheina p 72 a b Scheina p 71 a b c Scotti p 165 a b c Scotti p 166 Scotti p 10 Scotti p 219 Larzelere p 13 Cutler p 84 Larzelere p 21 Cutler p 82 Larzelere p 15 Larzelere p 33 Larzelere p 54 a b Cutler p 114 Marolda p 64 Marolda p 67 Commander Naval Forces Vietnam June 1968 Monthly Historical Summary June 1968 PDF Naval Historical Center U S Navy pp 4 5 Retrieved 8 December 2011 Scotti p 110 Bibliography Cutler Thomas J 2000 Brown Water Black Berets Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam Naval Institute Press Annapolis ISBN 978 1 55750 196 7 Larzelere Alex 1997 The Coast Guard at War Vietnam 1965 1975 Naval Institute Press Annapolis ISBN 978 1 55750 529 3 Marolda Edward J 2018 Combat at Close Quarters An Illustrated History of the U S Navy in the Vietnam War Annapolis Maryland U S Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 68247 195 1 Scheina Robert L 1990 U S Coast Guard Cutters amp Craft 1946 1990 Naval Institute Press Annapolis ISBN 978 0 87021 719 7 Scotti Paul C 2000 Coast Guard Action in Vietnam Stories of Those Who Served Hellgate Press Central Point Oregon ISBN 978 1 55571 528 1 Wells II William R August 1997 The United States Coast Guard s Piggyback 81mm Mortar 50 cal machine gun Vietnam Magazine Retrieved 8 October 2010 External links edit Point Class 82 foot WPBs Coast Guard Historian s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USCGC Point Dume amp oldid 1172766274, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
