USCGC Minnetonka (WHEC-67)

USCGC "Minnetonka" (WHEC-67) was an "Owasco" class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard. The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently "Minnetonka" did not see wartime service until the Vietnam war.

"Minnetonka" was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Originally christened "Sunapee", she was renamed after Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota and commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-67 on 11 July 1946. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-66 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).

Peacetime service

"Minnetonka" was stationed at San Pedro, CA, from 20 September 1946 to 7 March 1951. She was used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations in the Pacific.

On 2 and 3 January 1951, "Minnetonka" assisted MV "Keisin Maru" at 38°41’N, 152°00’E. From 23 to 15 January 1951, she assisted MV "Oregon Mail" at 46°35’N, 166°34’E. From 7 March 1951 to 31 May 1974, "Minnetonka" was homeported at Long Beach, California, and used for the same duties as listed above. On 8 September 1954, she assisted FV "American" at 33°08’N, 120°44’W. From 6 to 8 May 1955, she patrolled the Ensenada Race. On 24 August 1956, she towed the disabled schooner "Atlantic" toKodiak, Arkansas. On 8 November 1957, she searched for the Pan-American stratocruiser "Romance of the Skies" between San Francisco and Honolulu. 19 bodies were recovered on the sixth day of the search.

On 8 July 1959, "Minnetonka" towed the disabled FV "Ruth K" to Long Beach, California. On 17 and 18 December 1959, she assisted MV "Guam Pioneer" at 31°23’N, 124°37’W. On 28 and 19 August 1961, she towed the disabled FV "Alaska Reefer" to Port Townsend, Washington. On 11 and 12 February 1962, she assisted FV "Western Fisher". "Minnetonka" served on reserve cruise from 10 to 13 August 1962. On 30 July 1967, "Minnetonka" rescued six people from FV "Sea Boy" off California.

Vietnam war

"Minnetonka" was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, Vietnam, from 5 January to 29 September 1968. On 1 March 1968, she forced an enemy trawler to abandon its supply mission.

Return to peacetime service

After her stint in Vietnam, "Minnetonka" returned to peacetime service until her decommissiong a few years later.

A fatal accident occurred on 20 June 1972. One person was killed and two were seriously injured when a hot-water heater exploded while the cutter was in Long Beach.

Decommissioning

"Minnetonka" was decommissioned on 31 May 1974.

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Minnetonka_1946.html "Minnetonka" WHEC-67] , United States' Coast Guard website.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981, pp. 1-3.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 18-26.