Treasury-class cutter

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USCGC Duane (WHEC-33) returning from Vietnam 1968.jpg
Duane in 1968
Class overview
NameTreasury class
OperatorsEnsign of the United States Coast Guard (1915-1953).png  United States Coast Guard
Succeeded by Hamilton-class cutter
Completed7
Cancelled3
Lost1
Preserved
General characteristics
Type Cutter
Displacement2,216 long tons (2,252 t; 2,482 short tons)
Length327 ft (99.67 m) o/a
Beam41 ft (12.50 m)
Draught12.5 ft (3.81 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × oil-fueled Babcock & Wilcox boilers
  • Westinghouse geared turbines
  • 2 shafts
  • 6,200 ihp (4,600 kW)
Speed20 knots (37.0 km/h; 23.0 mph)
Range12,300 nautical miles (22,780 km; 14,155 mi) at 11 knots (20.4 km/h; 12.7 mph)
Complement125
Armament
Aircraft carried1 x Grumman JF-2 Duck or Curtiss SOC-4

The Treasury-class cutter was a group of seven high endurance cutters launched by the United States Coast Guard between 1936 and 1937. The class were called the "Treasury class" because they were each named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. These ships were also collectively known as the "327's" as they were all 327 feet (100 m) in length. [1] The Treasury-class cutters proved versatile and long-lived warships. Most served the United States for over 40 years, including with distinction through World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Contents

In the words of naval historian John M. Waters, Jr., they were their nation's "maritime workhorses. The 327s battled through the 'Bloody Winter' of 1942–43 in the North Atlantic," with the ships fighting off and destroying German U-boats, and rescuing survivors from torpedoed convoy ships. Roles of the 327s included serving as amphibious task force flagships in World War II, pilot search and rescue (SAR) during the Korean War, and a critical component of Operation Market Time during the Vietnam War. "Most recently, these ships-that-wouldn't-die have done duty in fisheries patrol and drug interdiction. Built for only $2.5 million each, in terms of cost effectiveness we may never see the likes of these cutters again." [2]

Commencing in the late 1970s the Treasury-class cutters were gradually replaced or their duties taken over by newer and larger Hamilton-class 378-foot (115 m) high endurance cutters.

Design and construction

The 327s were designed to meet changing missions of the service as it emerged from the Prohibition era. Because the air passenger trade was expanding both at home and overseas, the Coast Guard believed that cutter-based aircraft would be essential for future high-seas search and rescue. Also, during the mid-1930s, narcotics smuggling, mostly opium, was on the increase, and long-legged, fairly fast cutters were needed to curtail it. The Treasury class were an attempt to develop a 20-knot (37 km/h) cutter capable of carrying an airplane in a hangar.

The final 327-foot (100 m) design was based on the Erie-class US Navy gunboats; the machinery plant and hull below the waterline were identical. This standardization would save money—always paramount in the Coast Guard's mind, as the cutters were built in U.S. Navy shipbuilding yards. Thirty-two preliminary designs based upon the Erie class were drawn up before one was finally selected. The healthy sheer forward and the high slope in the deck in the wardrooms was known as the "Hunnewell Hump." Commander (Constructor) F. G. Hunnewell, USCG, was the head of the Construction and Repair Department at that time.

The seven Treasury-class Coast Guard Cutters were: [1]

Displacing 2,350 tons with a 12-foot (3.7 m) draft, these ships had a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). They had crews of between 120 and 230 depending on whether they were serving in peace or wartime. The ships were originally built with two open centerline 5"/51 caliber gun mounts forward, and carried either a single Grumman JF-2 Duck or Curtiss SOC-4 aft. Various arrangements of 3"/50 and 5"/51 guns and depth charge throwers were installed aft when the planes were removed in 1940–41. [3] [11] Postwar armament typically included hedgehog and an enclosed 5"/38 caliber gun mount forward and MK 32 torpedo tube systems tubes aft. [12]

World War II service

The 327s were also known for their high "Kill Rate" during World War II. Campbell demonstrated Treasury-class anti-submarine warfare suitability escorting convoy HX 159 in November 1941. [13] With a kill rate of 0.57 per ship, the Treasury class were the most successful American anti-submarine warships. (US Navy Destroyer Escorts had a kill rate of 0.1) Treasury-class cutters served as leaders of Mid-Ocean Escort Force group A3 during the winter of 1942–43. [14]

Bibb and Ingham participated in the battles of Convoy SC 118 and Convoy SC 121. [20]

Taney served in the Pacific and was uniquely armed with four enclosed 5"/38 gun mounts in centerline positions where the Erie-class gunboats mounted 6"/47 guns. [21] The six surviving cutters were converted to amphibious force flagships towards the end of World War II. Taney also has the distinction of being one of only two military vessels still afloat that was present during the Pearl Harbor attack, 7 December 1941.

Fate

USCGC Taney at Honolulu in 1958 Taney 1958.jpg
USCGC Taney at Honolulu in 1958

With the exception of Hamilton, which was torpedoed and sunk 10 miles (16 km) off Iceland 29 January 1942, all of the Treasury-class ships led very long lives. [22] Bibb and Duane were sunk as artificial reefs off the coast of Florida in 1987. Campbell was sunk by the US Navy in a training exercise on 29 November 1984. Spencer was sold 8 October 1981 for scrap. Taney is currently a museum ship at the Baltimore Maritime Museum, in Baltimore, Maryland, and Ingham is part of the Key West Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida.

Related Research Articles

USCGC <i>Taney</i> U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter

WPG/WAGC/WHEC-37, launched as USCGC Roger B. Taney and for most of her career called USCGC Taney, is a United States Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter notable as the last warship floating that fought in the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was named for Roger B. Taney (1777–1864), who served as U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of the Treasury, and Chief Justice of the United States.

USCGC <i>Ingham</i> (WHEC-35) United States Coast Guard Cutter

USCGC Ingham (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-35) is one of only two preserved Treasury-class United States Coast Guard Cutters. Originally Samuel D. Ingham, she was the fourth cutter to be named for Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham. She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations.

USCGC <i>Bibb</i> Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship

The USCGC Bibb (WPG-31) was a 327-foot (100 m) Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury. Bibb was named for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury George M. Bibb.

USCGC <i>Duane</i> United States Coast Guard cutter

USCGC Duane (WPG-33/WAGC-6/WHEC-33) was a cutter in the United States Coast Guard. Her keel was laid on May 1, 1935, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on June 3, 1936, as a search and rescue and law enforcement vessel.

During the Battle of the Atlantic, British merchant shipping was formed into convoys for protection against German submarine attack. In March 1943 convoys HX 229 and SC 122 were the focus of the largest convoy battle of the war. Kriegsmarine tactics against convoys employed multiple-submarine wolfpack tactics in nearly simultaneous surface attacks at night. Patrolling aircraft restricted the ability of submarines to converge on convoys during daylight. The North Atlantic winters offered the longest periods of darkness to conceal surfaced submarine operations. The winter of 1942–43 saw the largest number of submarines deployed to the mid-Atlantic before comprehensive anti-submarine aircraft patrols could be extended into that area.

The ON and later ONS convoys were a series of North Atlantic trade convoys running Outbound from the British Isles to North America during the Atlantic campaign of the Second World War. The ON convoys replaced the earlier OA/OB series of outbound convoys in July 1941 and ran until the end of the campaign in May 1945. They were organized as alternating fast and slow convoys until March 1943, when the ONS series was begun to take over the slow trans-Atlantic traffic, after which all in the ON series were fast.

USCGC <i>Campbell</i> (WPG-32)

USCGC Campbell (WPG-32) was a 327-foot (100 m) Secretary-class United States Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convoy ON 166</span> Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War

Convoy ON 166 was the 166th of the numbered ON series of merchant ship convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. Sixty-three ships departed Liverpool 11 February 1943 and were met the following day by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3 consisting of the Treasury-class cutters Campbell and Spencer and the Flower-class corvettes Dianthus, Chilliwack, Rosthern, Trillium and Dauphin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convoy SC 121</span> Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War

Convoy SC 121 was the 121st of the numbered series of World War II Slow Convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City 23 February 1943; and were met by the Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3 consisting of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Treasury-class cutter USCGC Spencer, the American Wickes-class destroyer USS Greer, the British and Canadian Flower-class corvettes HMS Dianthus, HMCS Rosthern, HMCS Trillium and HMCS Dauphin and the convoy rescue ship Melrose Abbey. Three of the escorts had defective sonar and three had unserviceable radar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convoy SC 118</span> Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War

Convoy SC 118 was the 118th of the numbered series of World War II slow convoys of merchant ships from Sydney, Cape Breton Island, to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 24 January 1943 and were met by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-2 consisting of V-class destroyers Vanessa and Vimy, the Treasury-class cutter Bibb, the Town-class destroyer Beverley, Flower-class corvettes Campanula, Mignonette, Abelia and Lobelia, and the convoy rescue ship Toward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-ocean escort force</span>

Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) referred to the organisation of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys between Canada and Newfoundland, and the British Isles. The allocation of United States, British and Canadian escorts to these convoys reflected preferences of the United States upon United States' declaration of war and the organisation persisted through the winter of 1942–43 despite withdrawal of United States ships from the escort groups. By the summer of 1943, United States Atlantic escorts were focused on the faster CU convoys and the UG convoys between Chesapeake Bay and the Mediterranean Sea; and only British and Canadian escorts remained on the HX, SC and ON convoys.

USCGC Mojave (WPG-47) was a 240-foot Tampa-class United States Coast Guard cutter in commission from 1921 until 1947.

Convoy HX 156 was the 156th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. Forty-three ships departed Halifax on 22 October 1941, and were met two days later by United States Navy Task Unit 4.1.3 consisting of Gleaves-class destroyer Niblack, Clemson-class destroyer Reuben James, Wickes-class destroyer Tarbell, and Benson-class destroyers Benson and Hilary P. Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Local Escort Force</span> World War II-era escort group in the Royal Canadian Navy

Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) referred to the organization of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys from North American port cities to the Western Ocean Meeting Point near Newfoundland where ships of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) assumed responsibility for safely delivering the convoys to the British Isles.

USCGC <i>Spencer</i> (WPG-36) Treasury-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard

USCGC Spencer (WPG-36) was a Treasury-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard that served during World War II. She was named for U.S. Treasury Secretary John Canfield Spencer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UG convoys</span> Convoys during naval battles of the Second World War

The UG convoys were a series of east-bound trans-Atlantic convoys from the United States to Gibraltar carrying food, ammunition, and military hardware to the United States Army in North Africa and southern Europe during World War II. These convoys assembled in Hampton Roads near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and terminated in various North African locations as Axis forces retreated from 1942 through 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arctic naval operations of World War II</span> Naval theatre of operations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convoy HX 212</span> Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War

Convoy HX 212 was the 212th of the numbered series of World War II HX convoys of merchant ships from HalifaX to Liverpool. The ships departed New York City on 18 October 1942 and were met on 23 October by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group A-3 consisting of the United States Coast Guard Treasury-class cutter USCGC Campbell, the destroyer Badger and the Flower-class corvettes Dianthus, Rosthern, Trillium, Dauphin, Alberni, Summerside and Ville de Quebec. The first five escorts had worked together previously, but the last three corvettes were attached to the convoy only for passage to the eastern Atlantic in preparation for assignments on Operation Torch. Summerside was the only escort equipped with modern Type 271 centimeter-wavelength radar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convoy ON 144</span> Convoy during naval battles of the Second World War

Convoy ON 144 was a trade convoy of merchant ships during the Second World War. It was the 144th of the numbered series of ON convoys Outbound from the British Isles to North America. The ships departed Liverpool on 7 November 1942 and were joined on 8 November by Mid-Ocean Escort Force Group B-6 consisting of the Flower-class corvettes Vervain, Potentilla, Eglantine, Montbretia and Rose and the convoy rescue ship Perth. Group B-6 had sailed without the destroyers Fame and Viscount which had been damaged in the battle for eastbound convoy SC 104. The United States Coast Guard cutters Bibb, Duane, and Ingham accompanied the convoy from the Western Approaches with ships that detached for Iceland on 15 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hirshfield</span> US Coast Guard admiral (1902–1993)

Vice Admiral James Albert Hirshfield was the sixth Assistant Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. During World War II he was the commanding officer of the USCGC Campbell (WPG-32) during a battle with German U-boats, earning the Navy Cross.

References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Silverstone 1968 p.373
  2. Waters 1967
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fahey 1942 p.56
  4. "Bibb, 1937". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  5. "Campbell, 1936". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  6. "Duane, 1936 (WHEC-33)". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  7. "USCG Hamilton" (PDF). U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History. United States CoastGuard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  8. "Ingham, 1936". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  9. "Spencer, 1937 (WPG/WHEC 36)". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  10. "Taney, 1936". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fact Sheets. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  11. Silverstone 1968 p.369
  12. Albrecht 1969 p.178
  13. Morison 1975 pp.108-109
  14. Milner 1985 pp.290-291
  15. Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.139
  16. Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.136
  17. Morison 1975 p.305
  18. Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.207
  19. Morison 1975 p.344
  20. Morison 1975 pp.334-335&343
  21. Silverstone 1968 p.370
  22. Morison 1975 p.109

Bibliography

  • Albrecht, Gerhard (1969). Weyer's Warships of the World, 1969. United States Naval Institute.
  • Fahey, James C. (1942). The Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet, Two-Ocean Fleet Edition. Ships and Aircraft.
  • Milner, Marc (1985). North Atlantic Run. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-450-0.
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (1975). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume I The Battle of the Atlantic 1939–1943. Little, Brown and Company.
  • Rohwer, J. & Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-105-X.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1968). U.S. Warships of World War II. Doubleday and Company.
  • Waters, John M. Jr. (1967). Bloody Winter. D. Van Nostrand Company.