USCGC Bramble (WLB-392)

The USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) was built by Zenith Dredge Company in Duluth, Minnesota. "Bramble's" preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth. On 2 August 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 23 October 1943 and commissioned on 22 April 1944. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $925,464. It is currently a museum ship that is part of Port Huron Museum, located in in Port Huron, Michigan.

"Bramble" is one of 39 original convert|180|ft|m|0|sing=on seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. All but one of the original tenders, the USCGC Ironwood (WLB-307), were built in Duluth.

In the spring on 1945, she departed the Great Lakes to her first homeport of San Pedro, California, to perform aids to navigation duties. Later that year, "Bramble" was transferred to Juneau, Alaska For supply and aids to navigation work around the Aleutian Islands.

After World War II, "Bramble's" homeport was changed to San Francisco. Except for a brief stay in Hawaii in 1946, she remained assigned to San Francisco until 1949. From July to October 1947, "Bramble" participated in "Operation Crossroads," the first test of an atomic bomb's effect on surface ships, at Bikini Island.

In 1949 "Bramble" was reassigned to San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved again in 1953 to Miami, Florida. About this time renewed interest in the Northwest Passage brought about another mission for "Bramble".

The Coast Guard Cutters "Bramble", Spar (WLB-206) and Storis (WMEC-28) were selected to attempt a forced passage along the northern shore of Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. Preparations for the difficult voyage included fitting "Bramble" with a stainless steel propeller and strengthening her bow to withstand tremendous pressures created by the Arctic ice pack. "Bramble" departed for this historic adventure from Miami on 24 May 1957 en route Seattle, Washington via the Panama Canal. On 1 July 1957 the task force departed Seattle for the Atlantic via the Bering Straits and Arctic Ocean. The ships traveled through convert|4500|nmi|km|-1 of semi-charted water in 64 days to recross the Arctic Circle into the Atlantic. The success of the mission distinguished the three cutters as the first American surface ships to circumnavigate the North American continent. On 2 December 1957 "Bramble" returned to Miami.

In 1962 "Bramble" transferred to Detroit, Michigan to perform the missions of aids to navigation, search and rescue, icebreaking and law enforcement throughout the Great Lakes. "Bramble" completed a major renovation and overhaul in 1974, during which her engines were removed and rebuilt and her berthing areas were expanded and modernized. A new hydraulic boom was also installed.

Upon completion of the major renovation in September 1975, "Bramble" reported to Port Huron, Michigan, her present homeport. In addition to her normal duties, "Bramble" has been involved in some unique missions. She has frequently served as the Patrol Commander for the Port Huron-to-Mackinac sailboat race. This race started in 1925 and is one of the largest freshwater sailboat races in the country, with an average of 300 boats competing each year. "Bramble" has also set buoys for the International Freedom Festival in the Detroit River.

From December 1986 to April 1987, "Bramble" performed law enforcement duties in the Caribbean. "Bramble" was involved in six cases during which one vessel was seized, three persons arrested and 50 tons of marijuana confiscated.

From June to November 1989, "Bramble" again underwent major renovations in Toledo, Ohio. Her original engines were replaces with General Motors electromotive Division EMD-645 V-8 diesel engines. New 200 kW ship's service generators, boilers, associated plumbing and electrical cable were also part of the project.

1994 marked the Golden Anniversary of "Bramble's" commissioning, along with her Great Lakes sister ships USCGC Acacia (WLB-406), home ported in Charlevoix, Michigan, and Sundew (WLB-404), home ported in Duluth, Minn.

From December 1997 to April 1998 the "Bramble" was involved in "Operation Snowbird." This took the cutter down south where the main mission was to help train marine police of 10 eastern Caribbean nations. While down south, the crew also performed work on aids to navigation and participated with Venezuela in a joint law enforcement operation. During this operation "Bramble" steamed over 12,165 miles.

Aids to navigation is "Bramble's" primary mission; aids to navigation assist the merchant fleet and private vessels in safely navigating waterways. "Bramble's" area of responsibility includes eastern Lake Erie, southern Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Currently, "Bramble" is responsible for maintaining 187 buoys, 1 NOAA weather buoy and three fog signals. During winter months "Bramble's" capabilities as an icebreaker enable her to escort ships through the ice, assist ships in distress and break ice for relief.

"Bramble" primarily deploys twice a year for buoy operations. In late fall or early winter, "Bramble" spends between eight-10 weeks for "buoy decommissioning" – removing buoys and installing temporary winter marks (small buoys not normally damaged by ice). During this period approximately 101 lighted buoys will be decommissioned. Then, starting in early spring as the lake ice season begins to subside, "Bramble" starts the eight-10 week "buoy commissioning" season to replace winter marks with regular buoys. Along with commissioning the buoys, there are approximately 86 unlighted aids that must be services and inspected in the spring. Her winter months are normally spent, when not icebreaking, undergoing maintenance and training; her summer months are usually spent in regularly-scheduled drydock or dockside availabilities, training conferences and festival celebrations throughout the lakes.

Throughout "Bramble's" service it has been awarded many awards and ribbons. She has received the Department of Transportation Gold Medal, CG Unit Commendation, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG "E" Ribbon, CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Arctic Service Medal and the Special OPS Service Ribbon.

With new technology evolving, the door opened for a new class of cutters to take over the position that the 180-footers held. The new "Juniper"-class cutters started replacing the 180s'. The new convert|225|ft|m|0|sing=on cutters have the primary mission of buoy tending but also are able to perform multiple missions like its predecessor. The 225's also are able to help with environmental cleanups, search and rescue, law enforcement and icebreaking.

On 22 May 2003, the "Bramble" was decommissioned. The replacement for "Bramble" is the new Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock (WLB-214), a 225 Juniper-class. "Bramble" is now a museum ship, and is docked at the Seaway Terminal as part of Port Huron Museum.

External links

* [http://www.uscg.mil/d9/grudet/units/bramble/main.htm USCGC Bramble Homepage]
* [http://www.hnsa.org/ships/bramble.htm Historical Naval Ships Association page on Bramble]
* [http://www.phmuseum.org/bramble.html Port Huron Museum - Bramble Page]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/NPS_180_HAER_Report.pdf National Park Service Report on the convert|180|ft|m|0|sing=on buoy tenders]