USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)

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Career

Laid down:	1 May 1935
Launched:	3 June 1936
Commissioned:	12 September 1936
Decommissioned:	27 May 1988
Fate:	Museum ship
General Characteristics
Displacement:	2,700 tons
Length:	327 ft (100 m)
Beam:	41 ft (12.5 m)
Propulsion:	2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers and 2 Westinghouse double reduction geared steam turbine engines. 6,200 hp (4.6 MW)
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h)
Range:	8,270 nmi. (15,000 km)
Complement:	120 to 300 men (depending on time period)
Armament:	depending on the time period, 1 to 4 x 5 in/38 cal guns (127 mm), 2 x 5 in/51 caliber guns (127 mm), 2 x 6 lb (2.7 kg) saluting guns, varying numbers of 50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
Aircraft:	originally 1 Grumman Seaplane, later removed
Motto:	Semper Paratus (Always Ready)

USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) , one of only two preserved Treasury-class cutters, probably the most successful large cutters built by the United States Coast Guard. Originally Samuel D. Ingham, she was the fourth cutter to be named for Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham (1779–1860). She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations.

Ingham was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard The Treasury Department awarded her contract on 30 January 1934. Her keel was laid on 1 May 1935 and she was launched on 3 June 1936 along with her sisters William J. Duane and Roger B. Taney. Ingham was christened by Ms. Katherine Ingham Brush on that date and the new cutter was formally commissioned on 12 September 1936.

Ingham served with distinction during World War II on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to Britain, Ingham battled stormy weather, German U-Boats, and enemy aircraft. During one crossing Ingham engaged and sank the enemy submarine U-626. After 1944, Ingham served as an amphibious flagship. Ingham patrolled the waters surrounding Korea during the Korean War and earned a Presidential Unit Citation (US) for her service during the Vietnam War. After the war the cutter returned to regular Coast Guard duties, serving until 1988, when she was decommissioned.

Acquired by Patriot's Point in 1989, Ingham is displayed along with the aircraft carrier Yorktown, the destroyer Laffey, and the submarine Clamagore.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard has declared Ingham the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Killed in Action In World War II and Vietnam. These 912 casualties are identified on a memorial plaque on Ingham's quarterdeck.

USCGC Ingham is a National Historic Landmark.

Treasury-class Coast Guard Cutters