USCGC Pontchartrain (WHEC-70) was an Owasco class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard. The ship was commissioned just days before the end of the war and thus did not see combat action until the Korean war.
USCGC Pontchartrain (WHEC-70), 1 September 1945. Her World War II armament of two twin dual purpose 5"/38 caliber gun turrets is clearly visible here
Pontchartrain was built by the Coast Guard yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland, one of only two Owasco class vessels not to be built by Western Pipe & Steel. Named after Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, the ship was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-70 on 28 July 1945. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-70 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter"—the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).[2][3]
Pontchartrain was originally named Okeechobee. She was stationed at Boston, Massachusetts, from 1 April 1946 to 17 October 1947 [there is conflicting data that indicates station at Boston until 23 August 1948] and was used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations. She was subsequently decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD, until 5 September 1948. She was re-commissioned and homeported at Norfolk, Virginia until 12 November 1949. From 12 November 1949 to sometime in 1972 she was stationed at Long Beach, California. During her last 18 months, until decommissioning 19 October 1973, she was home-ported in Wilmington, NC. She was used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations in the Pacific and Atlantic.[4]
On 4 May 1950, Pontchartrain assisted the disabled FV Eta near Catalina Island. On 20 August 1955, she escorted the disabled American MV John C. On 26 and 27 August 1955, she assisted the disabled FV Nina Ann. On 16 October 1956, she rescued all on Pan American Clipper 6, which ditched only 1⁄2 mile from the cutter's position at Ocean Station N.[5] On 20 November 1956, Pontchartrain assisted LSM-455 aground on San Clemente Island. On 26 August 1957, she assisted the disabled FV Modeoday 2 miles north of North Point Pinos. On 22 November 1957, she assisted the disabled yacht Gosling at 33°59’N, 120°16’W.
On 25 February 1958, Pontchartrain assisted the disabled yacht Intrepid. From 11 to 21 August 1958, she served on a reserve training cruise. She patrolled the Ensenada Bay Race on 10 May 1959. On 10 July 1959, she assisted FV Carolyn Dee at 33°N, 120°W. On 13 and 14 July 1959, she assisted MV Mamie. On 17 August 1960, she patrolled the Acapulco Yacht Race. From 20 August to 3 September 1960, she served on a reserve training cruise. On 19 October 1959, she rescued three from the ketchAlpha at 30°21’N, 117°56’W. On 22 January 1961, she medevaced a patient from USNS Richfield. On 30 April 1963, Pontchartrain assisted the disabled FV Gaga 10 miles east of San Nicolas Island.
^"16 October 1956". This Day in Aviation. Bryan R. Swopes. October 16, 2018.
Referencesedit
Pontchartrain WHEC-69, United States' Coast Guard website.
photo, United States' Coast Guard website.
Scheina, Robert L.: U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981, pp. 1–3.
Scheina, Robert L.: U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990 Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 18–26.
May 09, 2024
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For other ships with the same name see USCGC Pontchartrain USCGC Pontchartrain WHEC 70 was an Owasco class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard The ship was commissioned just days before the end of the war and thus did not see combat action until the Korean war USCGC Pontchartrain WHEC 70 1 September 1945 Her World War II armament of two twin dual purpose 5 38 caliber gun turrets is clearly visible hereHistory United States NamePontchartrain NamesakeLake Pontchartrain Louisiana OperatorUnited States Coast Guard BuilderCoast Guard Yard Curtis Bay Maryland Launched29 February 1944 ChristenedOkeechobee Commissioned28 July 1945 Decommissioned19 October 1973 ReclassifiedWPG 70 to WHEC 70 FateScrapped 1974 1 General characteristics TypeOwasco class cutter Displacement1 978 full 1966 1 342 light 1966 Length254 ft 77 4 m oa 245 ft 74 7 m pp Beam43 ft 1 in 13 1 m Draft17 ft 3 in 5 3 m 1966 Installed power4 000 shp 3 000 kW 1945 Propulsion1 x Westinghouse electric motor driven by a turbine 1945 Speed17 knots 31 km h 20 mph Range6 157 mi 9 909 km at 17 knots 10 376 mi 16 699 km at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph 1966 Complement10 officers 3 warrants 130 enlisted 1966 Sensors and processing systemsDetection Radar SPS 23 SPS 29 Mk 26 Mk 27 1966 Sonar SQS 1 1966 Armament1945 2 x twin 5 in 38 cal dual purpose gun mounts 2 x quad 40 mm AA gun mounts 2 x depth charge tracks 6 x K gun depth charge projectors 1 x Hedgehog projector 1966 1 x 5 in 38 cal dual purpose gun mount 1 x Hedgehog projector NotesFuel capacity 141 755 gal Oil 95 Pontchartrain was built by the Coast Guard yard at Curtis Bay Maryland one of only two Owasco class vessels not to be built by Western Pipe amp Steel Named after Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana the ship was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG 70 on 28 July 1945 Her ID was later changed to WHEC 70 HEC for High Endurance Cutter the W signifies a Coast Guard vessel 2 3 Contents 1 Peacetime service 2 Vietnam war 3 Decommissioning 4 Footnotes 5 ReferencesPeacetime service editPontchartrain was originally named Okeechobee She was stationed at Boston Massachusetts from 1 April 1946 to 17 October 1947 there is conflicting data that indicates station at Boston until 23 August 1948 and was used for law enforcement ocean station and search and rescue operations She was subsequently decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard Curtis Bay MD until 5 September 1948 She was re commissioned and homeported at Norfolk Virginia until 12 November 1949 From 12 November 1949 to sometime in 1972 she was stationed at Long Beach California During her last 18 months until decommissioning 19 October 1973 she was home ported in Wilmington NC She was used for law enforcement ocean station and search and rescue operations in the Pacific and Atlantic 4 nbsp Pan Am Flight 6 ditching photographed from Pontchartrain On 4 May 1950 Pontchartrain assisted the disabled FV Eta near Catalina Island On 20 August 1955 she escorted the disabled American MV John C On 26 and 27 August 1955 she assisted the disabled FV Nina Ann On 16 October 1956 she rescued all on Pan American Clipper 6 which ditched only 1 2 mile from the cutter s position at Ocean Station N 5 On 20 November 1956 Pontchartrain assisted LSM 455 aground on San Clemente Island On 26 August 1957 she assisted the disabled FV Modeoday 2 miles north of North Point Pinos On 22 November 1957 she assisted the disabled yacht Gosling at 33 59 N 120 16 W On 25 February 1958 Pontchartrain assisted the disabled yacht Intrepid From 11 to 21 August 1958 she served on a reserve training cruise She patrolled the Ensenada Bay Race on 10 May 1959 On 10 July 1959 she assisted FV Carolyn Dee at 33 N 120 W On 13 and 14 July 1959 she assisted MV Mamie On 17 August 1960 she patrolled the Acapulco Yacht Race From 20 August to 3 September 1960 she served on a reserve training cruise On 19 October 1959 she rescued three from the ketch Alpha at 30 21 N 117 56 W On 22 January 1961 she medevaced a patient from USNS Richfield On 30 April 1963 Pontchartrain assisted the disabled FV Gaga 10 miles east of San Nicolas Island Vietnam war editPontchartrain was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three South Vietnam from 31 March to 9 November 1970 http www uscg mil directives cim 1000 1999 CIM 1650 25D pdfDecommissioning editPontchartrain was decommissioned on 19 October 1973 She was scrapped with the rest of the Owasco class in 1974 Footnotes edit Western Pipe amp Steel San Pedro shipyard Archived 2007 11 15 at the Wayback Machine Colton Company website USCG Pontchartrain PDF U S Coast Guard History Program United States Coast Guard Retrieved 2012 12 17 USCG Designations U S Coast Guard History Program United States Coast Guard Retrieved 2012 12 17 Philatelic History of Wilmington NC 16 October 1956 This Day in Aviation Bryan R Swopes October 16 2018 References editPontchartrain WHEC 69 United States Coast Guard website photo United States Coast Guard website Scheina Robert L U S Coast Guard Cutters amp Craft of World War II Annapolis Naval Institute Press 1981 pp 1 3 Scheina Robert L U S Coast Guard Cutters amp Craft 1946 1990 Annapolis Naval Institute Press 1990 pp 18 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USCGC Pontchartrain WHEC 70 amp oldid 1206688719, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
