USCGC Escanaba (WPG-77)

The United States Coast Guard Cutter "Escanaba" ("WPG-77") was built at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan in 1932. She was commissioned on November 23, 1932 in Grand Haven, Michigan, which prior to World War II, would be her permanent station. "Escanaba"'s primary missions were ice breaking and search and rescue on the Great Lakes. In 1941, "Escanaba" was assigned to the "Greenland" patrol, performing escort duty and search and rescue operations in the North Atlantic.

On 15 June 1942, while escorting convoy XB-25 from Cape Cod to Halifax, she had two submarine contacts, and made attacks. No sinkings were confirmed. After these attacks, the ship rescued 20 people from the SS Cherokee, which had been sunk by a U-boat. On February 3, 1943, she rescued 132 people from the USAT Dorchester, which was also sunk by a U-boat. In June 1942, "Escanaba" was credited with the sinking of two submarines in a single day.

From 1 July until 23 August 1942, she was on weather patrol.

On 10 June 1943, she began escorting convoy GS-24 from Narsarssuak to St. John's, Newfoundland, in company with the "Mojave" (Flag), "Tampa", "Storis", and "Algonquin", the convoy consisting of USAT "Fairfax" and USS "Raritan".

At 0510 on the 13 June, dense black and yellow smoke was reported rising from the "Escanaba". She sank at 0513. "Storis" and "Raritan" were ordered to investigate and rescue survivors while the rest of the convoy began zigzagging and steering evasive courses to avoid submarines. At 0715 the two cutters returned, having rescued two survivors and found the body of Lt. Robert H. Prause, which was retrieved by the "Raritan". No explosion had been heard by the other escort vessels. The entire crew of 103 was lost with the exception of these two men.

The exact cause of the explosion was unknown at the time. After the war, it was determined that it was a torpedo from a U-boat that had sunk the "Escanaba".

Sources

*DANFS
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/tande/WPG/wpg77.html The Coast Guard at War]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cutter/escanaba/Pages/WPG77.htm]

External links

* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/webcutters/Escanaba_WPG_77.html USCG History]