Namesake Mariposa plant Commissioned 1 July 1944 Construction started 25 October 1943 Length 55 m | Laid down 25 October 1943 Decommissioned 7 March 2000 Launched 14 January 1944 Builder Zenith Dredge Corporation | |
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Name USCGC Mariposa (WLB-397) Fate Transferred to US Navy as training hulk, 17 April 2000 | ||
The USCGC Mariposa (WLB-397) was a Iris-class buoy tender belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 14 January 1944 and commissioned on 1 July 1944.
Contents
Design
The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Mariposa cost $926,446 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
Upon receiving her commission the Mariposa was assigned to the 3rd Coast Guard District and homeported in Staten Island where she was used for general ATON until the end of World War II. After the end of the war, she stayed in Staten Island. In 1990 she underwent a major renovation and from June 1991 until being decommissioned she was stationed in Seattle.
In 2000 she was transferred to the US Navy for use as a training hulk.