USCGC Cowslip (WLB-277)

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Career

Class:	Cactus
Laid down:	16 September 1941
Launched:	11 April 1942
Commissioned:	17 October 1942
Cost to build:	$918,873
Builder:	Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, Duluth, MN
Decommissioned:	2002
Fate:	Sold to foreign navy.
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 Cowslip (WLB-277) 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. Cowslip' 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 16 September 1941 the keel was laid, she was launched on 11 April 1942 and commissioned on 17 October 1942. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $918,873.

Cowslip 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.

After being commissioned, Cowslip was assigned to Boston, MA, where she served until 1944. From 1944 until 1973, she was assigned to Portland, Maine. Cowslip was decommissioned in 1973 and later sold to a civilian firm in 1977. After the loss of the USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-307) in 1980, the Coast Guard re-purchased the Cowslip and recommissioned her as a replacement.

After her recommissioning, Cowslip was assigned to Governor's Island, NY from 1981-1983. From 1983-184, she was moved to the Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay, MD to take part in the Coast Guard's SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) that eventually provided major upgrades for 14 of the 39 "180s". The work done to Cowslip, which cost $8.9 million, was completed in 1984 and took 16 months of work. The upgrades included new main engines, a Marine Sanitation Device system, upgraded electronics and navigation equipment, a propulsion control computer, and a central fluid power system. In addition, the ships's berthing spaces were renovated, the ship's office and radio room were expanded, additional storeroom space was added and the boom control booth was relocated. After her renovation, she was assigned to Portsmouth, VA, where she was stayed until 1995. In 1995 she moved to the west coast and called Astoria, OR her home port until she was retired.

One notable incident in the Cowslip's career is a collision with the 757-foot container ship Ever Grade that occurred in the Columbia River in 1997. Although sustaining significant damage, the Cowslip was repaired and sent back in to service.

Cowslip was decommissioned for a second time in November of 2002 and sold to the Nigerian Navy for use as a general purpose vessel.