Name USCGC Salvia (WLB-400) Laid down 24 June 1943 Decommissioned 4 October 1991 Launched 19 September 1943 Builder Zenith Dredge Corporation | Namesake Salvia plant Commissioned 19 February 1944 Construction started 24 June 1943 Length 55 m | |
Fate Salvage operations training vessel for US Navy in Little Creek | ||
The USCGC Salvia (WLB-400) was a Iris-class buoy tender belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 19 September 1943 and commissioned on 19 February 1944.
Contents
Design
The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Salvia cost $923,995 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
After receiving her commission, the Salvia was assigned to ATON and icebreaking duties in the Great Lakes. In May 1944, she was assigned to the 5th Coast Guard District and stationed in Portsmouth where she remained until the end of World War II.
After the war, she was homeported in Mobile and continued to perform general ATON. In April 1951 she was disabled in Calasieu Pass and was towed back to port by Tampa. In December 1968 Salvia searched for survivors from the lost USCGC White Alder (WLM-541).