USCG Seagoing Buoy Tender

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Seagoing Buoy Tender is a class of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter originally designed to service aids to navigation, throughout the waters of the United States, and wherever U.S. shipping interests require. The Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its orgins in the U.S. Light House Service. These ships originally were designated with the hull classification symbol WAGL, but in 1965 the designation was changed to WLB, which is still used today.

Two classes of the WLB cutters have been produced. The older class, the "180" class WLB cutters, were 180 feet (55 m) long. Thirty-nine of these sturdy vessels were built from 1942-1944. All but one were constructed in the shipyards of Duluth, Minnesota. The 180 fleet, many of which served for more than 50 years, all went through different mid-life modifications that essentially resulted in three different classes of ship. All of the 180s are now retired and have been replaced with the new 225 foot (69 m) Juniper class WLBs. The last 180-foot cutter, the USCGC Acacia (WLB-406), was decommissioned June 7, 2006.

The new 225 foot buoy tenders are designed and operated as multi-mission platforms. While the 180's also performed other CG missions, they lacked the speed, communications, navigation and manuverability of the new 225's. Today, 225's conduct almost as much law enforcement as they do AtoN, and are also outfitted to conduct oil spill recovery, Search and Rescue, homeland security and some ice breaking operations.

1 180' - Class Ships
2 225' - Juniper Class Ships
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] 180' - Class Ships

[edit] Class A (Cactus)

USCGC Conifer WLB-301 circa 1966

USCG Buoy Tender Mesquite

USCG Buoy Tender Sundew

USCGC Balsam (WLB-62)
USCGC Cactus (WLB-270)
USCGC Cowslip (WLB-277)
USCGC Woodbine (WLB-289)
USCGC Gentian (WLB-290)
USCGC Laurel (WLB-291)
USCGC Clover (WLB-292)
USCGC Evergreen (WLB-295)
USCGC Sorrel (WLB-296)
USCGC Citrus (WLB-300)
USCGC Conifer (WLB-301)
USCGC Madrona (WLB-302)
USCGC Tupelo (WLB-303)

[edit] Class B (Mesquite)

USCGC Ironwood (WLB-297)
USCGC Mesquite (WLB-305)
USCGC Buttonwood (WLB-306)
USCGC Planetree (WLB-307)
USCGC Papaw (WLB-308)
USCGC Sweetgum (WLB-309)

[edit] Class C (Iris)

USCGC Basswood (WLB-388)
USCGC Bittersweet (WLB-389)
USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390)
USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391)
USCGC Bramble (WLB-392)
USCGC Firebush (WLB-393)
USCGC Hornbeam (WLB-394)
USCGC Iris (WLB-395)
USCGC Mallow (WLB-396)
USCGC Mariposa (WLB-397)
USCGC Redbud (WLB-398)
USCGC Sagebrush (WLB-399)
USCGC Saliva (WLB-400)
USCGC Sassafras (WLB-401)
USCGC Sedge (WLB-402)
USCGC Spar (WLB-403)
USCGC Sundew (WLB-404)
USCGC Sweetbrier (WLB-405)
USCGC Acacia (WLB-406)
USCGC Woodrush (WLB-407)

[edit] 225' - Juniper Class Ships

Launch of the Juniper class Buoy Tender Oak WLB-211

USCGC Hollyhock in front of the Renaissance Center in Detroit

The Juniper class uses Dynamic Positioning which allows maintenance of the vessel's position within a 10 meter circle in winds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h) and waves of up to 8 feet (2.4 m).