Laid down 16 April 1943 Decommissioned 26 February 1993 Launched 18 June 1943 | Commissioned 17 February 1944 Construction started 16 April 1943 Length 55 m | |
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Name USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390) Builder Marine and Iron Shipbuilding Corporation Fate Sold on 24 November 2000, eventually scrapped | ||
The USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390) was a Iris-class buoy tender belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 18 June 1943 and commissioned on 17 February 1944.
Contents
Design
The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Blackhaw cost $871,771 to construct and had an overall length of 180 feet (55 m). It had a beam of 37 feet (11 m) and a draft of up to 12 feet (3.7 m) at the time of construction, although this was increased to 14 feet 7 inches (4.45 m) in 1966. It initially had a displacement of 935 long tons (950 t; 1,047 short tons); this was increased to 1,026 long tons (1,042 t; 1,149 short tons) in 1966. It was powered by one electric motor. This was connected up to two Westinghouse generators which were driven by two CooperBessemer GND-8 four-cycle diesel engines. It had a single screw.
The Iris-class buoy tenders had maximum sustained speeds of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), although this diminished to around 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) in 1966. For economic and effective operation, it had to initially operate at 8.3 knots (15.4 km/h; 9.6 mph), although this increased to 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) in 1966. The ship had a complement of six officers and seventy-four crew members in 1945; this decreased to two warrants, four officers, and forty-seven men in 1966. It was fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE-3A sonar system in 1945. Its armament consisted of one 3″/50 caliber gun, two 20mm/80 guns, two Mousetraps, two depth charge tracks, and four Y-guns in 1945; these were removed in 1966.
Career
Immediately after her commissioning, the Blackhaw was assigned to perform general ATON and icebreaking duties in the Great Lakes. Afterward she was assigned to the 6th Coast Guard District and homeported in Charleston, South Carolina.
In popular culture
During the spring of 1989 the ship and her crew were used during the filming of The Hunt for Red October to depict a Soviet icebreaker and its crew.