USCGC Cactus (WLB-270)

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Career

Class:	Cactus
Laid down:	31 March 1941
Launched:	25 November 1941
Commissioned:	1 September 1942
Cost to build:	$782,381
Builder:	Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, Duluth, MN
Decommissioned:	1971
Fate:	Converted to barge
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1,025 tons
Length:	180 feet
Beam:	37 feet
Propulsion:	2 General Motors EMD-645 V-8 Diesel engines
Speed:	13 knots
Range:	8000 miles at 13 knots
Complement:	48
Armament:	Wartime: 20mm guns, a 3 inch cannon and depth charges. Peacetime: None
Aircraft:	None
Motto:	Semper Paratus (Always Ready)

The USCGC Cactus (WLB-270) is a 180 foot sea going buoy tender (WLB). A Cactus class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Cactus' preliminary design was completed by the U.S. Light House Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On 31 March 1941 the keel was laid, she was launched on 25 November 1941 and commissioned on 1 September 1942. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $782,381.

Cactus is one of 39 original 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. All but one of the original tenders, the USCGC Ironwood (WLB-307), were built in Duluth.

Cactus was decommissioned in 1971 after running aground. Ultimately, the Coast Guard sold the damaged vessel and she was converted to a barge for use in the Pacific Northwest.