Decommissioned US Coast Guard Cutters
in the Puget Sound area
The Coast Guard has a large presence throughtout the Salish Sea. Many larger cutters can be found in Seattle. As Coast Guard Cutters become decommissioned their futures are unclear unless an organization begins an effort to maintain them for training or educational purposes.
Below is a list of decommissioned Coast Guard Cutters and some of their history. Just like lighthouses, their proud history shouldn’t necessarily be destined for the salvaging. Please support these efforts the best you can either by volunteering and/or financial contributions.
USCG ACUSHNET (WAT-167)
The USCGC Acushnet is a decommissioned tug that is presently moored in Anacortes, Washington, Originally named “SHACKLE” the Acushnet was used as a tugboat
Builder: Basalt Rock Company, Napa, California
Keel Laid: 26 October 1942
Launched: 1 April 1943
Commissioned: 5 February 1944 (USN); 23 August 1946 (USCG)
Decommissioned: 29 June 1946 (USN); 11 March 2011
Length: 213′ 6″
Beam: 40′ 8″
Draft: 13′ 11″
Displacement: 1,756 tons
Propulsion: 4 diesels; 3,030 BHP; twin propellers
Presently the ship is being maintained by the Acushnet Project as a non-profit organization. Your interest and financial contributions are always welcome. Click button below.
USCGC COMANCHE (ATA-202)
The USCGC Comanche is based out of Tacoma and was used as a tug boat. Was a Medium Endurance Cutter or WMEC.
Builder: Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Port Arthur, Texas
Length: 143′
Beam: 33′ 10″
Draft: 13′ 3″
Displacement: 754 tons
Commissioned: 6 December 1944 (USN); 25 February 1959 (USCG)
Decommissioned: 30 January 1980
Disposition:
Machinery: 2 electric motors driven by 2 generators driven by 2 General Electric GM 12-228A diesel engines; 750 SHP each
Performance & Endurance:
Max: 13.5 knots
Cruising: 8.5 knots; 12,000-mile range
Complement: 47
USCGC FIR (WLM-212)
The USCGC Fir was a buoy tender that serviced buoys and Aids To Navigation throughout the Salish Sea.
Commissioned: 1 October 1940
Decommissioned in 1 October 1991 after 49 years of service.
WAGL / WLM-212
Nicknames: Mother Fir; Building 212
Length: 174 ft., 8 1/2 in.
Beam: 32 ft.
Draft: 11 ft., 3 in.
Displacement: 885 tons
Dates of Construction: keel laid on January 7, 1939; launched on March 22, 1939
Commissioned: 1 October 1940
Decommissioned: 1 October 1991; transferred to the Liberty Maritime Museum in Sacramento, California on 30 September 2002.
Designer: U.S. Lighthouse Service
Builder: Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California
Cost: $389,746
Machinery: Originally 2 triple-expansion steam, horizontal engines; 2 oil-fired Babcock & Wilcox watertube boilers; twin screws; converted to diesel in 1951: 2 four-cylinder Fairbanks-Morse 38D 8-1/8; 2 Detroit Diesel 100KW generators.
Shaft horsepower: 1000 (steam); 1,350 (diesel)
Maximum speed: 12.0 knots