(U.S. Coast Guard) The Coast Guard conducted the first U.S. raid of WWII. Original caption, “NAZI SUBMARINE SUNK BY THE FAMED CUTTER USCGC SPENCER (WPG-36): Effect of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC SPENCER (WPG-36)'S fire are visible in this close-up shot of the U-Boat, taken as the battle raged. Your email address will not be published. The ship was lightly armed, had sonar, a hull strengthened for ice operations and carried an aircraft. Spencer returned to the United States in November 1969 and continued her peace-time mission of ocean station keeping. He told me that the Navy boys were jealous of the Coast Guard ship because the Navy ships had been ordered to remain on the periphery of the convoys proceeding north up the coast while the Coast Guard was free to engage anywhere they saw the enemy subs. There she was credited with taking part in numerous amphibious assaults including Luzon and Palawan in the Philippines Campaign. Hollandia. Subsequent contacts were non-sub or lost and Spencer rejoined the convoy. I was about 10 years old at the time and remember picking him up at 1 AM in Bayonne New Jersey. My dad, fluent in German, was told to get the prisoner’s names and ranks. On 11 April 1943, Spencer departed St. John’s in company with Task Unit 24.1.3 consisting, in addition, of Duane, two British and two Canadian escorts, and rendezvoused with the 56-ship east-bound convoy HX-233, relieving the local escort on the 12th. The crew of the submarine was observed to be abandoning ship via the conning tower. All. Apparently he was the only witness to this event it seems and when he reported it to the captain he was not believed, a dismissal that kind of hurt the very young seaman that he was at the time. In an instant it had disappeared. Three Germans were observed to be dead in the conning tower. My Dad’s ship, PY20, the USS Tourmaline, saw the Spencer in action while conducting convoy assembly escort duty along the east coast of the US during the height of the submarine attacks in 1942 & 1943 before being transferred to the Pacific Theater. He had volunteered to make his way in the heavy seas to the aft depth charge racks to tighten them down their having come loose in the rough ocean at some considerable risk to his person. After the commissioning of the new Spencer in 1986 membership was opened to the crews of the USS Spencer WMEC-905. Pearl Harbor D-Day Vietnam Photos Oral Histories & Memoirs Browse by Topic. These made them ride even worse. Her last voyage was from New York City to the United States Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay on 15 January 1974. In mid 1943 three of the new 180 foot Buoy tenders arrived. This Association was founded by 24 WWII Veterans who served aboard USCG Cutter Spencer 36. She was then sold to the North American Smelting Company and scrapped. Posted June 28, 2013. The U.S Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) WHEC-37 is one of the famed Secretary of the Treasury Class Coast Guard cutters built in the mid-1930's. Boats (Less than 65 ft) Cutters (65 ft or greater) Other Vessels (Non-CG) USCGC Tampa Notable People. I always thought it exciting for the CG ship to have actually sank a Nazi submarine. At 0646 she established a contact and dropped a pattern of 10 charges and half an hour later fired mousetraps on another contact. Sold for scrapping on 8 October 1981 to North American Smelting Co. 2,216 long tons (2,252 t; 2,482 short tons), 12,300 nautical miles (22,780 km) at 11 knots (20.4 km/h), 1937: 12 officers, 4 warrants, 107 enlisted, 1941: 16 officers, 5 warrants, 202 enlisted, 1966: 10 officers, 3 warrants, 134 enlisted, 2 x MK13 high altitude parachute flare mortars, 1 Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross with Palm. Crotty, a 1934 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, served throughout the … Does anyone know what issue of Life Magazine this appeared in? https://military.wikia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Coast_Guard_cutters Inactive; 1,429 posts; Onboard her for this voyage were 24 of her World War II crew. In the uncertain days of World War II, the Coast Guard-manned USS Spencer steamed alongside convoy ships maintaining long lines of food, men and war machines destined for the front lines of Europe. All Lighthouses & Light Stations Stations & Units Water. That was typical of his amazing generation. ww2dbase USS Spencer Awards As air-passenger aircraft flights were expanding at home and overseas, the Coast Guard believed that cutter-based aircraft were essential for future search and rescue missions. Very good read. We just got set down sideways to leeward. After the war Spencer returned to her Coast Guard duties, serving in the Atlantic Ocean. Like all other Coast Guard vessels that sailed as part of the Navy during World War II, the cutter Spencer served right alongside Naval Ships-of-the-Line and matched them blow for blow through some of the most demanding actions. WW2 Coast Guard USS Spencer Cutter, Captured U-175 group WW2 Coast Guard USS Spencer Cutter, Captured U-175 group. These ships were also collectively known as the "327's" as they were all 327 feet (100 m) in length. Very little in the way of boasting. On Sep. 12, 1941, nearly three months before the Pearl Harbor attack, the crew of Coast Guard cutter Northland conducted the first U.S. raid of the war. All. At 1215 Spencer lowered her No. The Allied operation, launched on June 6, 1944, started the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. Association membership was initially opened to World War II crew members and eventually to all former crew members. Medical Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1899 - 1934; Telegraph and Radio Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1910 - 1916; Logbooks of Lighthouse Tenders, 1873 - 1941; For U.S. Coast Guard logs from 1972 to the 1980s see our Regional Archives depending on the vessel's home port and location of station. *Coast Guard Cutter Spencer is scheduled to shift homeports to Portsmouth, VA in 2021* Commanding Officer, CDR Thomas C. Rodzewicz Executive Officer, LCDR Nolan J. Cuevas From the United States Coast Guard – History of the Cutter USCGC Spencer. At 1140 Spencer commenced firing all guns and observed many hits on the conning tower and at its base. On the way from New York to Gitmo, we got stuck in a storm off Hatteras and actually hove to to avoid damage on our way to training. Lt. James Crotty as lieutenant junior grade aboard a Coast Guard cutter. World War II. The Spencer served for over 37 years and when decommissioned in 1974 she was the most decorated cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet. A historical document that may be getting donated to the museum in New Orleans. The Life magazine article was in the June 7, 1943 issue. I believe I have the actual list “original” of the 22 Germans placed on the Duane. Following in my Grandfather’s footsteps, I too joined the U.S. Coast Guard and retired several years ago after a seccessful career. Assets. 17th April 1943: USCGC Spencer’s mid Atlantic attack on U-175. I got to board the ship once in New Jersey, and as a 10 year old it was very exciting. This month marks the 70th anniversary of a decisive victory for the predecessor of Coast Guard Cutter Spencer. She finished the war in the Pacific. The submarine was sunk off south-west of Ireland by USCGC Spencer (WPG-36) on April 17, 1943. . Location: 35°54'7.61"N, 75°23'42.47"W (35.902116, -75.395133) Depth:77 feet Vessel Type:U.S. Coast Guard Active Class Patrol Boat Length: 125 feet Breadth:23 feet 6 inches Gross Tonnage: 232 tons Cargo:N/A Built: American Brown Boveri Electric Company, Camden, New Jersey, and commissioned on March 14, 1927 Hull Number: Unknown Port of Registry: Morehead City, North Carolina, USA Owner:U.S. Coast Guard Former Names:None Date Lost:September 14, 1944 Sunk By: Great Atlantic Hurricane Surv… The Spencer had another sub kill taken away, and may have had a third but were unable to confirm the kill. 1 boat had been damaged by a projectile and the superstructure had been damaged by shrapnel–all of the damage was caused by friendly fire as the gunners on board many of the nearby merchant ships failed to clear Spencer while firing at the surfaced U-boat. 501stGeronimo. The Coast Guard During World War II. Fixed Wing Rotary Wing Significant Dates in Coast Guard Aviation Land. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After I left the Spencer they painted her gray and sent her off to Vietnam. We went immediately to refresher training at Gitmo, and did several Ocean Stations in my time. Air. The Treasury-class cutter was a group of seven high endurance cutters launched by the United States Coast Guard between 1936 and 1937. Here she provided navigational assistance for the fledgling Trans-Atlantic air industry and acted as a search and rescue platform both ships and aeroplanes. The U. S. Coast Guard in World War II . They were built to run from Atoll lagoon to atoll lagoon in the South Pacific, preferably on a nice day. At 1145 Spencer ceased firing and maneuvered in the vicinity of the disabled submarine. All US Navy AGCs, LCCs, and Coast Guard WAGCs; Fred's Place -- The Place to Meet Old Shipmates; Jack's Joint-- an Unofficial Guast Guard Library and More... U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II, Robert L. Scheina. On the 16th Spencer dropped depth charge and delivered a mousetrap attack on a sound contact, firing eight more rounds of mousetrap ammunition on another contact an hour later. When I was on the Half Moon ( WHEC 378 ) we tied up across from the Spencer. The after davit of Spencer’s No. The crew of the submarine was observed to be abandoning ship via the conning tower. While there he look up to see the bow of the Spencer looming over him on the crest of a wave. During the Battle of Atlantic she acted as a convoy escort, hunting German U-boats, and was responsible for sinking U-175 in 1943. The class were called the "Treasury class" because they were each named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. At 1138 a submarine [U-175] surfaced to conning tower depth at 2,500 yards, drawing slowly right, still underway but apparently damaged. His inflatable life vest was not working well as it had been punctured by shrapnel, and he almost didn’t make it. The sinking of U-175. My dad didn’t speak much about his time on the Spencer and the only combat experience he ever mention was a kamikaze attack. Dad also told me that the Spencer and the Tourmaline almost collided in heavy seas during one convoy mission. Twenty five of Spencer’s men were injured, one dying of his wounds [RM 3/c Julius Petrella]. During the Battle of Atlantic she acted as a convoy escort, hunting German U-boats, and was responsible for sinking U-175in 1943. USCGC Spencer (WPG-36) was a Treasury-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard that served during World War II.[1]. The submarine boarding party returned at 1255, having boarded the submarine momentarily prior to it sinking. (Later the CG came under Navy orders but not then.). As a torpedoed merchant ship goes down in February 1943, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Spencer searches for the attacking U-boat. COAST GUARD CUTTER SINKS SUB: Coast Guardsmen on the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER watch the explosion of a depth charge which blasted a Nazi U-Boat’s hope of breaking into the center of a large convoy. My father served on the Spencer. The US Revenue Cutter Spencer, 1844-1867 I still have great memories of good times in the Spencer. At one point we literally were forced to tack in order to change course. Spencer saw service in the Pacific War. The book gives a comprehensive listing of all the craft used by the Coast Guard and transfered to the Navy. She was decommissioned on 23 January 1974. My wife and I visited Dieter and his wife in Germany in 2012. Coast Guard units served with distinction in missions supporting the war effort even before formal U.S. entry into World War II. She saw service in the later stages of World War II and was decommissioned postwar. Naval Institute Press (1982) ISBN 0-87021-717-8 U.S. Coast Guard in World War II, Malcolm F. Willoughby. They just did what they thought was their duty. She then was transferred to the United States Coast Guard and was in commission as the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Barataria (WAVP-381), later WHEC-381 from 1949 to 1969, serving in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War during her lengthy Coast Guard career. He was the last of the U-175 survivors. For anyone interested in the role of the Coast Guard in World War II, this is the book to check out. All The USCGC Northland in World War II. Recommended Posts. The Spencer served over 37 years, and when decommissioned in 1974, was the most decorated cutter in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The half Moon ( WHEC 378 ) we tied up across from 327-foot. Retired several years ago the same photo in an old family photo album an! Crew of the United States Coast Guard – History of the Treasury lightly armed, had sonar, hull. Across the deck in one photo not shown in the 13th one was. 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