USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278) |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Western Pipe and Steel Company (WPS), San Pedro, California |
| Operators: | United States Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard |
| Completed: | 8 |
| Active: | None |
| Retired: | 8 |
| Preserved: | None |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Wind-class. |
| Type: | Heavy (up to 13 ft (4.0 m) ice) |
| Displacement: | 6,500 short tons (5,900 metric tons) full load |
| Length: | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Beam: | 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m) |
| Draft: | 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m) |
| Ice class: | Capable of breaking 13 foot ice.. |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h) top speed |
| Range: | 32,485 mi (52,280 km) at 11.6 knots (21.5 km/h) |
| Complement: | 219 officers and men |
| Armament: |
Units transferred to USSR:
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| Aircraft carried: | (as bulit) 1 Grumman J2F Duck seaplane. |
| Aviation facilities: | aft turret replaced by retractable hangar on aft helicopter deck after WWII. |
The Wind-class icebreakers were a line of diesel electric-powered icebreakers in service with the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and Soviet Navy from 1944 through the late 1970s. Considered the most technologically advanced icebreakers in the world when first built, the Wind-class icebreakers were also heavily armed; the first operator of the class was the United States Coast Guard, which used the vessels for much-needed coastal patrol off Greenland during World War II. Three of the vessels of the class, the Westwind, the Southwind, and the first Northwind all went on to serve temporarily for the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, while two others were built for the United States Navy and another was built for the Royal Canadian Navy; all eight vessels were eventually transferred to the United States Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard.[1][2][3]
The "Winds" were the first class of true icebreakers built by the United States. Gibbs & Cox of New York provided the designs with input from the Coast Guard's Naval Engineering Division. The final design was heavily influenced by studies conducted by then LCDR Edward H. Thiele, USCG (later RADM, and Engineer in Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard) of foreign icebreakers, namely the Swedish Ymer 1, launched in 1933, and the Soviet Krasin.[1]
Seven ships of the class were built in the United States, and one modified version the CCGS Labrador was built in Canada.[1][2][3][4][5]
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Initially, the ships of the Wind-class carried the designation of either WAG for Coast Guard, Auxiliary, General, or, (the U.S. Navy) AGB for Auxiliary, General, Breaker. In 1949 all U.S. Coast Guard WAGs were redesignated WAGBs for Coast Guard, Auxiliary, General, Breaker. During 1965 and 1966, all U.S. Navy icebreakers were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. NB: The two Northwinds referenced below are not to be confused with one-another.[1]
For Canada's Wind-class icebreaker, the Royal Canadian Navy assigned Pendant Number AW 50 to the Canadian-built HMCS Labrador. She was later transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard and recommissioned CCGS Labrador. The Labrador was not fitted with any weapons systems. Labrador possessed all the general characteristics of her American-built sister ships, but was much improved with state-of-the-art gear at the time (1951). Labrador was the only Canadian Wind-class icebreaker to be constructed, and also the last of the Wind-class to be built.[1][2][3][4][5]
(as originally fitted during WWII)
Went to Soviet Navy where she was known as the Severni Veter in 1944 as part of the Lend-Lease program; returned to United States Navy in 1951 as the Staten Island, then transferred to United States Coast Guard in 1966.
Sent to USSR where it was known as the Kapitan Belusov in 1945 as part of the Lend-Lease program. Returned to United States Navy in 1950 as the USS Atka, then transferred in 1966 to United States Coast Guard where she was known as the USCGC Southwind.
This was the second icebreaker commissioned Northwind. The first Northwind was transferred to the USSR under Lend-Lease and became the Staten Island upon her return to the United States. The name change was made to avoid confusion with the other icebraker. The Northwind was to become a museum ship in her last homeport of Wilimgton, NC and moored next to the USS North Carolina. The effort failed due to lack of funding.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Coast Guard.
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