24:
79:
964:, for example, states: "Initially fitted out as a gunboat, in 1946 she was converted to peacetime status, including the removal of much of her armament ... The work was completed in May, 1946." See also the specs in the same article. Basically, the ships had their two twin 5"/38 cal gun turrets, one fore and one aft, removed, and replaced with a single 5"/38 cal gun in the bow. The two twin 40 mm antiaircraft turrets were also removed, along with most of the antisubmarine weapons.
507:
453:
The Coast Guard had prepared a design for a 316-foot (96 m) cutter that was to have been an austere 327. This design was cut down into the 255-foot (78 m) ship. To accomplish this, everything was squeezed down and automated to a degree not before achieved in a turbo-electric-driven ship.
589:
service in mind, but much of this armament was deemed unnecessary for peacetime and was removed in the postwar period. Construction of the class received a low priority, and consequently none of the cutters were commissioned in time to see action in WWII, but a number eventually saw combat in the
521:
The hull was designed with constant flare at the waterline for ice-going. The structure was longitudinally framed with heavy web frames and an ice belt of heavy plating, and it had extra transverse framing above and below the design waterline. An enormous amount of weight was saved utilizing the
424:
Myths have long shadowed the design history of the 255-foot (78 m) class. These cutters were to have been much larger ships, and two theories persist as to why they were shortened. The first is that they were built to replace the ships supplied to
437:
stipulated that the Coast Guard had to build these replacement cutters to the same size and character as those provided to the
British. The second is that their length was determined by the maximum length that could pass through the locks of the
478:
engineers developed a system of synchronization and a variable-frequency drive for main-propulsion auxiliary equipment, which kept the pumps and other items at about two-thirds the power required for constant-frequency operation. The combined
498:. This steam was used all over the ship before finally going to a condenser. Space heating, galley, cooking, laundry, freshwater evaporation, fuel, and feed-water heating were all taken from the 20 psi back-pressure line.
410:
designation system, the vessels were stripped of much of their armament shortly after the war, and in 1965 were redesignated high endurance cutters (WHEC) after the Coast Guard adopted its own designation system.
1036:- "The undersigned officer agrees with practically all remarks, believing that these ships are the most inhuman ever utilized by the Coast Guard." - E. A. Coffin Jr. Commanding Officer USCGC Sebago (WPG-42)
450:. The Great Lakes shipbuilding industry brought pressure on Congress to ensure that it had the potential to bid on the contract. The first theory seems to be correct, but the second cannot be ruled out.
518:
The 255-foot (78 m) class was an ice-going design. Ice operations had been assigned to the Coast Guard early in the war, and almost all new construction was either ice-going or ice-breaking.
604:
suffered major damage in a maritime incident in the 1950s and was cannibalized for parts for the other cutters before being scrapped in 1965. The remainder of the class was scrapped in 1974.
549:, but this requirement was dropped before any of the units became operational. Following completion of the preliminary design by the Coast Guard, the work was assigned to George G. Sharp of
577:, and ten units were to be replacements for the 250-foot (76 m) class transferred to Great Britain under lend-lease. For economy, all thirteen units were built to the same design.
530:
stiffeners cut from 12" I-beams went from the main deck (4' depth of web) to the bottom (8" depth of web). As weight was cut out of the hull structure, electronics and
1017:
23:
1061:
1230:
234:
561:
The number of ships in the class – thirteen in total – had an interesting origin. Three were to have been replacements for over-aged cutters, the
594:. They were all however to provide many years of peacetime service in regular Coast Guard roles such as law enforcement, ocean station, and
1054:
890:
367:
157:
1251:
311:
395:
375:
64:
1256:
1192:
1186:
849:
390:
192:
1172:
1047:
813:
475:
1165:
1098:
795:
669:
1131:
1125:
937:
901:
723:
651:
568:
495:
371:
84:
1261:
1144:
1138:
1118:
741:
705:
374:. A total of thirteen cutters in the class were built, all named after lakes. Eleven were constructed by the
1179:
1158:
831:
777:
383:
59:
1151:
1111:
1105:
1084:
759:
687:
633:
562:
491:
434:
1214:
1208:
379:
107:
94:
304:
527:
399:
447:
407:
506:
595:
328:
1091:
905:
538:
the fuel tanks with seawater to maintain stability both for wind and damaged conditions.
32:(WPG-39), 1945. Her World War II armament of twin 5"/38 cal gun turrets is apparent here.
545:
of the 255s was originally divided into two islands in order to accommodate an aircraft
462:
The machinery design of the 255s was compact and innovative, but overly complex. It had
1030:
550:
542:
526:. The 250-foot (76 m) cutters' weights were used for estimating purposes. Tapered
471:
426:
185:
1245:
439:
929:
586:
535:
403:
318:
591:
443:
246:
989:
487:
467:
463:
430:
262:
10,376 mi (16,699 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (1966)
222:
546:
1039:
523:
534:
were increased, but at much greater heights. This top weight required
531:
480:
1033:
Excessive rolling; recommendation for installation gyro stabilizers
505:
1043:
406:
service and designated patrol gunboats (WPG) under the
284:
Detection Radar: SPS-23, SPS-29, Mk 26, Mk 27 (1966)
1231:List of cutters of the United States Coast Guard
1055:
885:
883:
483:room/engine room was a break with tradition.
8:
272:10 officers, 3 warrants, 130 enlisted (1966)
994:Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
585:The class was initially heavily armed with
1062:
1048:
1040:
470:, and automatic synchronizing between the
237:electric motor driven by a turbine, (1945)
259:6,157 mi (9,909 km) at 17 knots
615:
213:17 ft 3 in (5.3 m) (1966)
879:
490:for ship-service power exhausted at 20
339:1 × 5 in/38 cal. dual-purpose gun mount
353:Fuel capacity: 141,755 gal (Oil, 95%).
18:
978:. Doubleday and Company. p. 376.
7:
1018:Construction record, Colton Company
324:6 × "K" gun depth charge projectors
205:43 ft 1 in (13.1 m)
14:
494:gauge pressure instead of into a
466:control, variable-rate (10 to 1)
898:U.S. Coast Guard History Program
553:to prepare the contract design.
376:Western Pipe & Steel Company
77:
22:
1031:Memorandum about 255' Cutters
402:. Initially heavily armed for
1:
976:U.S. Warships of World War II
305:5 in/38 cal. dual-purpose gun
974:Silverstone, Paul H (1966).
249:(31 km/h; 20 mph).
790:Scrapped, 18 November 1974
736:Scrapped, 18 November 1974
366:was a 255-foot (78 m)
16:American Coast Guard vessel
1278:
1020:- Cost $ 4.27 million each
382:, while the remaining two—
191:245 ft (74.7 m)
184:254 ft (77.4 m)
1226:
1203:
1080:
938:United States Coast Guard
902:United States Coast Guard
866:
826:Scrapped, 7 October 1974
664:Scrapped, 7 October 1974
646:Scrapped, 7 October 1974
394:—were constructed by the
372:United States Coast Guard
148:
85:United States Coast Guard
37:
21:
502:Icegoing design features
60:Western Pipe & Steel
149:General characteristics
1252:High endurance cutters
718:Scrapped, 1 June 1965
522:technique of electric
515:
370:class operated by the
342:1 × Hedgehog projector
225:(3,000 kW) (1945)
509:
380:San Pedro, California
1257:Owasco-class cutters
996:. United States Navy
400:Curtis Bay, Maryland
934:Coast Guard History
930:"USCG Designations"
287:Sonar: SQS-1 (1966)
65:US Coast Guard Yard
516:
448:St. Lawrence River
408:United States Navy
279:processing systems
172:1,342 light (1966)
1239:
1238:
871:
870:
596:search and rescue
357:
356:
169:1,978 full (1966)
104:Succeeded by
1269:
1064:
1057:
1050:
1041:
1005:
1004:
1002:
1001:
990:"USN ship index"
986:
980:
979:
971:
965:
959:
954:
948:
947:
945:
944:
926:
920:
919:
917:
916:
910:
904:. Archived from
895:
887:
616:
396:Coast Guard Yard
83:
81:
80:
26:
19:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1271:
1270:
1268:
1267:
1266:
1262:Gunboat classes
1242:
1241:
1240:
1235:
1222:
1199:
1076:
1068:
1027:
1014:
1009:
1008:
999:
997:
988:
987:
983:
973:
972:
968:
957:
955:
951:
942:
940:
928:
927:
923:
914:
912:
908:
893:
889:
888:
881:
876:
862:Scrapped, 1974
844:Scrapped, 1974
808:Scrapped, 1974
772:Scrapped, 1974
754:Scrapped, 1974
700:Scrapped, 1974
682:Scrapped, 1974
614:
583:
559:
504:
474:and the motor.
460:
422:
417:
278:
218:Installed power
78:
76:
33:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1275:
1273:
1265:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1244:
1243:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1233:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1221:
1220:
1211:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1198:
1197:
1184:
1177:
1170:
1163:
1156:
1149:
1136:
1123:
1116:
1103:
1096:
1089:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1074:-class cutters
1069:
1067:
1066:
1059:
1052:
1044:
1038:
1037:
1026:
1025:External links
1023:
1022:
1021:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1006:
981:
966:
949:
921:
878:
877:
875:
872:
869:
868:
864:
863:
860:
857:
854:
846:
845:
842:
839:
836:
828:
827:
824:
821:
818:
810:
809:
806:
803:
800:
792:
791:
788:
785:
782:
774:
773:
770:
767:
764:
756:
755:
752:
749:
746:
738:
737:
734:
731:
728:
720:
719:
716:
713:
710:
702:
701:
698:
695:
692:
684:
683:
680:
677:
674:
666:
665:
662:
659:
656:
648:
647:
644:
641:
638:
630:
629:
626:
623:
620:
613:
606:
582:
579:
558:
555:
543:superstructure
503:
500:
472:turbogenerator
459:
456:
421:
418:
416:
413:
355:
354:
351:
347:
346:
345:
344:
343:
340:
336:
333:
332:
325:
322:
315:
308:
300:
295:
291:
290:
289:
288:
285:
280:
274:
273:
270:
266:
265:
264:
263:
260:
255:
251:
250:
243:
239:
238:
231:
227:
226:
219:
215:
214:
211:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
197:
196:
189:
180:
176:
175:
174:
173:
170:
165:
161:
160:
155:
151:
150:
146:
145:
142:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
126:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
105:
101:
100:
92:
88:
87:
74:
70:
69:
68:
67:
62:
55:
51:
50:
44:
40:
39:
38:Class overview
35:
34:
27:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1274:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1232:
1229:
1228:
1225:
1219:
1218:
1213:Followed by:
1212:
1210:
1207:Preceded by:
1206:
1205:
1202:
1196:
1195:
1194:Pontchartrain
1190:
1189:
1185:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1155:
1154:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1141:
1137:
1135:
1134:
1129:
1128:
1124:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1082:
1079:
1075:
1073:
1065:
1060:
1058:
1053:
1051:
1046:
1045:
1042:
1035:
1034:
1029:
1028:
1024:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1011:
995:
991:
985:
982:
977:
970:
967:
963:
960:s article on
953:
950:
939:
935:
931:
925:
922:
911:on 2012-10-19
907:
903:
899:
892:
891:"USCG Owasco"
886:
884:
880:
873:
865:
861:
858:
855:
853:
852:
851:Pontchartrain
848:
847:
843:
840:
837:
835:
834:
830:
829:
825:
822:
819:
817:
816:
812:
811:
807:
804:
801:
799:
798:
794:
793:
789:
786:
783:
781:
780:
776:
775:
771:
768:
765:
763:
762:
758:
757:
753:
750:
747:
745:
744:
740:
739:
735:
732:
729:
727:
726:
722:
721:
717:
714:
711:
709:
708:
704:
703:
699:
696:
693:
691:
690:
686:
685:
681:
678:
675:
673:
672:
668:
667:
663:
660:
657:
655:
654:
650:
649:
645:
642:
639:
637:
636:
632:
631:
627:
624:
621:
618:
617:
611:
607:
605:
603:
599:
597:
593:
588:
580:
578:
576:
572:
571:
566:
565:
556:
554:
552:
548:
544:
539:
537:
533:
529:
525:
519:
513:
512:Pontchartrain
508:
501:
499:
497:
493:
489:
484:
482:
477:
473:
469:
465:
457:
455:
451:
449:
445:
441:
440:Welland Canal
436:
432:
428:
427:Great Britain
419:
414:
412:
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
392:
391:Pontchartrain
387:
386:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
364:-class cutter
363:
352:
349:
348:
341:
338:
337:
334:
330:
326:
323:
320:
316:
313:
309:
306:
302:
301:
298:
297:
296:
293:
292:
286:
283:
282:
281:
276:
275:
271:
268:
267:
261:
258:
257:
256:
253:
252:
248:
244:
241:
240:
236:
232:
229:
228:
224:
220:
217:
216:
212:
209:
208:
204:
201:
200:
194:
190:
187:
183:
182:
181:
178:
177:
171:
168:
167:
166:
163:
162:
159:
156:
153:
152:
147:
143:
140:
139:
135:
132:
131:
127:
125:In commission
124:
123:
119:
116:
115:
112:
110:
106:
103:
102:
99:
97:
93:
90:
89:
86:
75:
72:
71:
66:
63:
61:
58:
57:
56:
53:
52:
48:
45:
42:
41:
36:
31:
25:
20:
1216:
1193:
1187:
1180:
1174:Androscoggin
1173:
1166:
1159:
1152:
1145:
1139:
1132:
1126:
1119:
1112:
1106:
1099:
1092:
1085:
1071:
1070:
1032:
998:. Retrieved
993:
984:
975:
969:
961:
952:
941:. Retrieved
933:
924:
913:. Retrieved
906:the original
897:
850:
832:
815:Androscoggin
814:
796:
778:
760:
742:
724:
706:
688:
670:
652:
634:
612:-class ships
609:
601:
600:
598:operations.
587:World War II
584:
574:
569:
563:
560:
540:
520:
517:
511:
485:
476:Westinghouse
461:
452:
423:
404:World War II
389:
384:
361:
360:
358:
319:depth charge
312:40 mm AA gun
277:Sensors and
235:Westinghouse
164:Displacement
108:
95:
46:
29:
625:Commission
592:Vietnam War
488:alternators
444:Great Lakes
221:4,000
91:Preceded by
1246:Categories
1209:Wind class
1188:Okeechobee
1167:Minnetonka
1100:Chautauqua
1012:References
1000:2012-12-19
943:2012-12-17
915:2012-12-17
797:Minnetonka
671:Chautauqua
619:Ship Name
570:Tallapoosa
536:ballasting
486:The turbo-
464:pilothouse
431:lend-lease
331:projector.
269:Complement
230:Propulsion
1133:Wachusett
1107:Wachusett
1093:Winnebago
874:Footnotes
859:1945-1973
841:1945-1973
823:1946-1973
805:1946-1974
787:1946-1973
769:1946-1974
751:1946-1974
733:1946-1973
725:Wachusett
715:1946-1965
697:1945-1972
679:1945-1973
661:1945-1973
653:Winnebago
643:1945-1973
547:amidships
514:(WPG-70).
496:condenser
458:Machinery
442:from the
420:Rationale
310:2 × quad
303:2 × twin
133:Completed
128:1945–1974
120:1944–1946
73:Operators
1146:Escanaba
1120:Iroquois
956:The USCG
867:Sources
743:Escanaba
707:Iroquois
622:Hull ID
608:List of
602:Iroquois
551:New York
532:ordnance
528:bulkhead
435:Congress
329:Hedgehog
294:Armament
141:Scrapped
109:Hamilton
54:Builders
1181:Mendota
1160:Klamath
856:WHEC-70
838:WHEC-69
833:Mendota
820:WHEC-68
802:WHEC-67
784:WHEC-66
779:Klamath
766:WHEC-65
748:WHEC-64
730:WHEC-44
712:WHEC-43
694:WHEC-42
676:WHEC-41
658:WHEC-40
640:WHEC-39
581:Service
575:Unalaga
564:Ossipee
524:welding
468:burners
446:to the
385:Mendota
1215:USCGC
1153:Winona
1140:Otsego
1113:Sebago
1086:Owasco
1072:Owasco
962:Owasco
761:Winona
689:Sebago
635:Owasco
610:Owasco
557:Number
510:USCGC
481:boiler
433:, and
429:under
415:Design
368:cutter
362:Owasco
335:1966:
321:tracks
314:mounts
307:mounts
299:1945:
179:Length
158:Cutter
82:
47:Owasco
30:Owasco
28:USCGC
1217:Eagle
1127:Huron
958:'
909:(PDF)
894:(PDF)
628:Fate
350:Notes
254:Range
247:knots
242:Speed
210:Draft
117:Built
111:class
98:class
49:class
573:and
541:The
388:and
359:The
327:1 ×
317:2 ×
233:1 ×
202:Beam
154:Type
96:Wind
43:Name
492:psi
398:at
378:at
245:17
223:shp
1248::
1191:/
1143:/
1130:/
1110:/
992:.
936:.
932:.
900:.
896:.
882:^
567:,
193:pp
186:oa
144:13
136:13
1063:e
1056:t
1049:v
1003:.
946:.
918:.
195:.
188:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
