USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278)

USCGC "Staten Island" (WAGB-278) was a United States Coast Guard "Wind"-class icebreaker. The "Staten Island" is actually the original "Northwind"; the original "Northwind" was transferred to the Soviet Union under the Lend Lease program in 1944 almost immediately after being commissioned. She served the Soviets in the Northern Route Command under the name "Severny Venter", which loosely translates into "Northwind", until December 19, 1951. When returned to the US Navy, she was called USS "Northwind" (AGB-5) until April 15, 1952 when she was renamed "Staten Island" to distinguish her from her successor (USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282)) which had been laid down shortly after WAGB-278 was sent to the Soviets.

hip's History

*1942 - Keel laid down 9 June, launched 28 December
*1943 - Construction continued
*1944 - Transferred to the USSR and christened "Severny Venter" on 26 February through the Lend-Lease Program
*1945 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1946 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1947 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1948 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1949 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1950 - on duty for Soviet Union
*1951 - Returned to the United States Navy on 19 December at Bremarhaven, Germany and resumed name USS "Northwind" (AGB-5). Placed under the command of LCDR Edmund L. Andronik, USN
*1952 - Arrived at Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, Massachusetts, on 25 February for overhaul and fitting out as a unit of the United States Atlantic Fleet. On 15 April she was renamed "Staten Island" to distinguish her from her successor USCGC "Northwind" (WAGB-282) which had been laid down shortly after this ship was sent to the Soviets. Overhaul completed by 30 June. On 1 July she set sailed from Boston to Grenfell Sound, Labrador, to conduct ice reconnaissance in Frobisher Bay, and returned to Boston on 8 September.
*1953 - Departed Boston for Resolution Island (Nunavut) on 25 April to relieve USS "Edisto" (AGB-2) and returned to Boston on 10 June. During August, Staten Island became the first Navy ship to cut through the Davis Strait from Thule to Ellesmere Island.
*1954 - Involved in 3 ice breaking operations through 15 December
*1955 - Home port changed to Seattle, Washington. Sailed for Seattle on 19 May and arrived on 10 June for duty with Service Squadron 1. From June through September, she broke ice for ships resupplying the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line radar stations, returning to Seattle on 28 September.
*1956 - Departed Seattle on 5 July to lead another convoy of resupply ships bound for the DEW Line through the ice. Returned to Seattle on 6 September. She was then assigned to Operation Deep Freeze II and departed Seattle for Antarctica on 3 November. "Staten Island" rendevoused with USS "Wyandot" (AKA-92) near the Panama Canal Zone before both continued on for Antarctica, arriving on 15 December at the Weddell Sea pack ice and then breaking through the Antarctic Circle on 20 December en route to Cape Adams.
*1957 - "Staten Island" led "Wyandot" from Cape Adams to Gould Bay where Ellsworth Station was then assembled. She departed Gould Bay to return home to Seattle on 15 February and arrived on 5 April.
*1958 -
*1959 -
*1960 -
*1961 -
*1962 -
*1963 -October 15, 1963...While on the summer Arctic mission, the Captain, John Metschel, Cdr. USN and a Navy helicopter pilot were lost at sea doing ice recon. The only remains found were one of the helicopter's pontoons floating at sea.
*1964 -
*1965 -
*1966 - On 1 February, "Staten Island" was decommissioned by the United States Navy and struck off of the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March. She was then transferred to the United States Coast Guard, where she was renamed USCGC "Staten Island" (WAGB-278) and home-ported at Seattle. During the summer of 1966, the engineering plant was upgraded and modifications were made to the flight deck and hangar to allow operation of a HH-52A Seaguard Helicopter. The Coast Guard then deployed her to Antarctica as part of that season's Operation Deep Freeze on 22 September.
*1967 - Returned from her Antarctic voyage on 6 April and was then sent into the Arctic Ocean above Alaska for four months during the spring and summer during which time she ran aground while traveling west from Prudhoe Bay and sustained minor damage. "Staten Island" then broke ice to assist her sister ship, the USCGC "Northwind" (WAGB-282), twice during the fall ice season; in September Northwind lost a propeller and became locked in the ice, and again in October-November operation convert|450|nmi|km north-northwest of Point Barrow, Alaska when "Northwind" became trapped in ice.
*1968 - During July and August she was assigned to conduct an oceanographic survey of the Chukchi Sea-Bering Strait area as part of a cooperetive effort between the Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit, the University of Alaska and the University of Washington.
*1969 - On 10-11 March , rescued the crew of the fishing vessel (F/V) Martindale which had run aground off Akun Island. Dispatched to the Arctic Ocean on 7 July as an oceanographic research platform and escort vessel for supply operations. Helped USCGC "Storis" (WMEC-38) reach open water off Point Barrow on 7 September. Relieved "Northwind" on 22 September after that vessel suffered engine trouble and assisted the CCGS "John A. Macdonald" in escorting the tanker SS "Manhattan" eastward through the Northwest Passage. Arrived in New York on 9 November and departed for Seattle on 9 December by way of the Panama Canal with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Acapulco, Mexico.
*1970 - Upon her arrival back in Seattle, "Staten Island" became the fourth United States ship to circumnavigate the North American continent, traveling over 23,000 miles in the process. Departed Seattle on 6 July to conduct scientific tests and evaluation of crude oil spread rate in the Arctic Ocean. Later that summer when a large group of 20 tugs and 40 barges bound for Prudhoe Bay with vital supplies became trapped in pack ice, "Staten Island" worked around the clock for 3-1/2 days to tow and push the barges to open water. Freed the fouled screw of the tug "Active" convert|30|nmi|km southwest of Point Barrow on 14 August. Returned to Seattle on 20 August. Departed Seattle in the fall as part of Operation Deep Freeze 1971.
*1971 - 28 February, while en route to Mawson Station she struck an uncharted pinnacle convert|14|nmi|km north of the station, suffering significant damage but no crew injuries. Damage included a punctured hull that flooded four compartments. After completing temporary repairs in Melbourne, Australia and certified seaworthy, USCGC "Burton Island" (WAGB-283) was ordered to escort the "Staten Island" home to Seattle.
*1972 - Late February, Operation Deep Freeze - en route to Hobart, Tasmania, Staten Island was broadsided by a rogue wave and came within 2 degrees of capsizing. While ascending the ladder to the Bridge to relieve the helmsman, Seaman Cotten hailed the Officer of the Day moments before an 80ft wall of water struck the Port beam. With the Bridge doors open the Bridge instantly filled with water, as well as the stair well in which Seaman Cotten was stopped from ascending - contemplated swimming through the Port wing door, releasing life rafts. She listed heavily to Starboard, began to shake with one propeller turning in the air. Rolled back to Port causing the Starboard Wing to scoop up ocean sending everyone splashing to toward the overhead (again). Only one injured - a Fireman climbing up from the engine room twisted an ankle. We all felt very fortunate the ship held on for us. :
*1973 - During the month of February, participated in the Bering Sea Experiment as part of her Arctic West Winter activities, convert|475|nmi|km north of Adak Island, with the Soviet research ship "Priboy" and several aircraft. From 7 March through 3 April, she was attached to Task Unit 57.0 of the Pacific Fleet during SUBICEX 1-73, during which time she received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device. Her crew received refresher training between 5 November and 16 November, at which time she departed Seattle to escort ships in Operation Deep Freeze 1973.
*1974 - Decommissioned on 15 November and sold for scrap.

References

*DANFS
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/staten_island.htm Dictionary of American Naval Ships]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/statenisland_1965_index.html United States Coast Guard - Official history of the "Staten Island" (uscg.mil)]