Cape Coral, 1953

WPB-95301

Type A

Builder:  Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD 

Commissioned:  21 September 1953 

Decommissioned:  6 June 1987 

Disposition:  unknown 

Length:  95’ oa; 90’ wl 

Navigation Draft:  6’4”  

Beam:  20’ max. 

Displacement (tons):  102 fl (A) 

Main Engines:   4 Cummins VT-600 diesels; 2 Detroit 16V149 diesels (renovated) 

BHP:  2,200; 2,470 (renovated) 

Performance, Max. Speed:  20 kts.; 24 kts. (renovated)
Performance, Cruising:        12 kts., 1,418-mi radius (1961) 

Fuel Capacity:  3,114 gallons 

Complement:  15 (1961) 

Electronics:

Radar:  SPS-64 (1987)

Sonar: retractable type  

Armament:  2 mousetraps, 2 depth charge racks, 2 20mm (twin), 2 .50-cal. machine guns (as completed). 2 12.7mm mg, 2  40mm Mk 64 grenade launchers (1987)

Class history—The 95-foot or Cape class was an outgrowth of a need for shallow-draft anti-submarine-warfare (ASW) craft brought on by the increasing tensions during the years immediately following World War II.   During the period of construction, three distinctive sub-classes evolved as the Coast Guard’s mission emphasis shifted from ASW to search and rescue (SAR), The A Type 95-footer was outfitted primarily for ASW. The B Type differed by mounting a 40 mm vice 20 mm gun and being fitted with scramble nets, a towing bit, and a large searchlight – all important SAR tools. The C Type units were constructed  without the heavy armament and for economy some of the SAR equipment was also deleted. However, the Coast Guard added these SAR items to both the As and Cs during various refits. A renovation program began in the mid-1970s but was ended, due to increasing expenses and a shortage of funds, after 16 boats had been overhauled.

The 95-footers were designed by the Coast Guard and built at the Coast Guard Yard.  Their hulls were made of steel while their superstructures were made of aluminum.  This proved to be problematic throughout their service lives due to electrolysis between the dissimilar metals.

These cutters remained unnamed until January of 1964.

Ship's history:

Cape Coral was stationed at Juneau, AK, from 1954 to 1983 and was used for law enforcement and SAR. On 6 April 1965, she accidentally grounded off Keen Island, Wrangell Narrows, AK. On 12 June 1965, she rescued two from a pleasure craft wrecked on Seduction Point, AK. On 17 January 1966, she rescued survivors from a pleasure craft and transported them to Haines, AK. On 13 July 1967, she towed and intentionally grounded the disabled powered barge Columbia near Gastineau Channel, Juneau, AK. On 28 August 1967, medevaced a crew member from the Japanese F/V Takachiko Maru 250 miles southwest of Ketchikan, AK. On 12 June 1968, she medevaced seaman from F/V Fuji Maru off Sitka, AK. From 9 to 11 September 1968, she salvaged F/V Valerie M aground off Sullivan Island.

Sources:

Cutter History File.  USCG Historian's Office, USCG HQ, Washington, D.C.

Robert Scheina.  U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990.  Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1990.
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Last Modified 1/26/2012