(Staten Island, New York Harbor island)

Type and Characteristics - Diesel-electric cutter, one of seven Wind-class, WAG-278, built by Western Pipe & Steel Co, Los Angeles, CA at cost of $9,880,000, laid down 9 June 1942, assigned for transfer to USSR, launched 28 December 1942, commissioned 26 February 1944, in USN 1951/52 (as USS Northwind, AGB-5, renamed USS Staten Island), in USCG 1966, 6,515 tons displacement full load, 269ft long x 63ft beam x 25ft 9in draft, 13.4kts, no armament, helicopter flight deck, crew of 219 - 12 officers, 2 warrant officer, 205 men.

Log Period and Areas of Service: 1966-74, Arctic, Alaskan waters, Antarctica, points in between.

Summary of Service

26 February 1944 – Commissioned (USCG / USSR) and delivered directly to the Soviet Union under the auspices of the Lend-Lease program as Severny Venter (North Wind).

31 January 1952 – Returned to the US and commissioned as USS Northwind. Her name was changed to USS Staten Island to avoid confusion with the Coast Guard ship Northwind. She participated in operations and expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic until early 1966.

1 February 1966 – Placed out of commission by the USN, and recommissioned with the Coast Guard as USCGC Staten Island (W-AGB-278), home-ported at Seattle. She underwent modifications there.

22 September 1966 – Participated in Operation Deep Freeze. 

1967 and 1968 – Served in Alaskan waters and the Bering Sea.

1969 – Traveled around the North American continent, through the Northwest passage and down to the Panama canal and back up to Seattle.

1970 – Served in Alaskan waters and the Bering Sea, studying crude oil spread rate

1971 – Participated in Operation Deep Freeze 1971 and circumnavigated Antarctica, 

28 February 1971 – She struck an uncharted pinnacle and suffered significant damage, including a punctured hull; with temporary repairs done at Tasmania, she returned to Seattle escorted by USCGC Burton Island.

1972 to 1973 – Served in Alaskan waters and the Bering Sea.

1974 – Participated in Operation Deep Freeze. 

15 November 1974 – Decommissioned.

Fate: Decommissioned 15 November 1974, sold for scrap.

Links: DANFS, USCG Historian's site

USCGC Staten Island 6

USCGC Staten Island hull #96 launching

USCGC Staten Island 5

USCGC Staten Island with helicopter aboard 1968

USCGC Staten Island 1

Ice Rescue Team retrieving mail drop in
Bering Sea, 1 March 1969

A general note on the sources.