USS Monomoy (AG-40)

USS "Monomoy" (AG-40) was a commercial cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was outfitted with guns and depth charges and sent into the dangerous waters of the North Atlantic Ocean to report on weather conditions and to act as escort vessel when required. She was manned by a U.S. Coast Guard crew and was eventually transferred to that agency as USCGC "Monomoy" (WAG-275).

Built in Minnesota

"Monomoy" (AG-40) was built In 1918 by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Duluth, Minnesota; acquired as "J. Floyd Massey, Jr". 15 September 1941 from Steel Products Transportation Company, Buffalo, New York; renamed "Monomoy" 15 October 1941; and commissioned 24 December 1941.

World War II Navy service

"Monomoy", manned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, joined the Weather Patrol, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in 1942. From her base at Boston, Massachusetts, she periodically sailed to weather stations 1 and 2, where she provided weather reports vital for the safety of convoys and air commerce.

Operating in dangerous waters, she made frequent contact with marauding submarines. Attacked by a Nazi U-boat 24 July, she returned fire, damaging the submarine, forcing it to break off action.

She continued patrolling the North Atlantic Ocean for the next 15 months, and despite enemy harassment and rough seas, was able to render valuable service to those crossing the Atlantic.

Transferred to the Coast Guard

She was formally transferred to the Coast Guard 22 October 1943, and stricken from the Naval Register 30 October. Redesignated "WAG-275", "Monomoy" served the Coast Guard through the remainder of the war and was then transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission. She was scrapped in 1951.

See also

* United States Navy
* United States Coast Guard
* World War II

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/49/49040.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AG-40 Monomoy - USCGC Monomoy (WAG-275)]