USCGC Point Dume (WPB-82325)
Encyclopedia
USCGC Point Dume (WPB-82325) was an 82 feet (25 m) USCG Point class cutter
constructed at the Coast Guard Yard
at Curtis Bay, Maryland in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name cutters
under 100 feet (30.5 m) in length, it was designated as WPB-82325 when commissioned and acquired the name Point Dume in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than 65 feet (19.8 m).
, where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. In February 1965, she assisted in the search for bodies and debris from Eastern DC-7 crash off Long Island.
At the request of the United States Navy
, in April 1965, she was alerted for service in Vietnam
and assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One in support of Operation Market Time
along with 16 other Point class cutters. While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island
and Camp Parks, California
, Point Dume was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay
, Philippines
in May 1965 where she was refit for combat service. Shipyard modifications included installation of new single-sideband radio equipment, additional floodlights, small arms lockers, bunks, additional sound-powered phone circuits, and the addition of 4 M-2 machine guns. The original bow mounted machine gun was replaced with a combination over-under 50 caliber machine gun/81mm trigger fired mortar that had been developed by the Coast Guard for service in Vietnam. For service in Vietnam, two officers were added to the crew complement to add seniority to the crew in the mission of interdicting vessels at sea.
Point Dume was assigned to Division 12 of Squadron One to be based at Danang, along with , , , , , , and . After sea trials, the Division left Subic Bay for Danang on 16 July 1965 in the company of , their temporary support ship. After almost two weeks at sea, they arrived at their new duty station on 20 July and began patrolling the coastal waters near Danang Duty consisted of boarding Vietnamese junks to search for contraband weapons and ammunition and check the identification papers of persons on board. Permanent engineering and logistic support of Division 12 was provided by a U.S. Navy non-self-propelled floating workshop, YR-71. During this time, the WPB's were directed to paint the hulls and superstructures formula 20 deck gray to cover the stateside white paint. This increased the effectiveness of night patrols.
While on patrol just south of the DMZ in the early morning hours of 16 August 1966 Point Dume reported seeing two rockets fired from an unidentified source hit the Navy Swift Boat
, PCF-19 which sank very quickly with the loss of 5 of the crew. Shortly thereafter, Point Dume came under fire from an unidentified aircraft along with the heavy cruiser and the Australian destroyer . The duration of the attack was about one hour with little damage to the cutter and Boston but considerable damage to Hobart and injury to several of her crew. Evidence showed later during a board of inquiry that it was a friendly fire
incident involving U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft mistaking the ships for enemy targets. This incident and the 11 August 1966 friendly fire
incident involving Point Welcome caused several procedures for the identification of naval vessels by Navy, Marine and Air Force aircrews to change.
On 14 February 1970, Point Dume was turned over to the Republic of Vietnam Navy
as part of the Vietnamization
of the war effort and recommissioned as RVNS Trường Tiền (HQ-709).
USCG Point class cutter
The United States Coast Guard Point Class Cutters were a class of 82-foot patrol vessels designed to replace the aging 83-foot wooden hull patrol boat being used at the time. The design utilized a mild steel hull and an aluminum superstructure...
constructed at the Coast Guard Yard
United States Coast Guard Yard
The United States Coast Guard Yard or just Coast Guard Yard is a United States Coast Guard operated shipyard located on Curtis Bay in northern Anne Arundel County, Maryland, just south of the Baltimore city limits. It is the coast guard's sole shipbuilding and major repair facility, and part of the...
at Curtis Bay, Maryland in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name cutters
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
under 100 feet (30.5 m) in length, it was designated as WPB-82325 when commissioned and acquired the name Point Dume in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than 65 feet (19.8 m).
Construction details
Point Dume was built with a mild steel hull and an aluminum superstructure that could accommodate an 8 man crew. She was powered by two 600 horsepower VT600 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five bladed 42 inch propellers. The main drive engines were later replaced by 800 horsepower VT800 Cummins engines. Longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight. Water tank capacity was 1550 gal and fuel tank capacity was 1840 gal at 95% full. Frozen food storage was 23 cubic foot (0.651287481 m³). Accommodations for a 13 man crew were installed for Vietnam service.History
After delivery in 1961, Point Dume was assigned a homeport of Fire Island, New YorkFire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
, where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. In February 1965, she assisted in the search for bodies and debris from Eastern DC-7 crash off Long Island.
At the request of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, in April 1965, she was alerted for service in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One in support of Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time
Operation Market Time was the United States Navy’s effort to stop troops and supplies from flowing by sea from North Vietnam to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War...
along with 16 other Point class cutters. While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island
Coast Guard Island
Coast Guard Island is in the Oakland Estuary between Oakland and Alameda, California. The island is situated in the historic Brooklyn Basin, now known as Embarcadero Cove. It is within the Alameda city limits, but is accessible, by car, only via a bridge to Dennison Street in Oakland.The Island...
and Camp Parks, California
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area is a United States Army facility located in Dublin, California that is currently a semi-active mobilization and training center for Army Reserve Component personnel to be used in case of war or natural disaster....
, Point Dume was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay
Subic Bay
Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in May 1965 where she was refit for combat service. Shipyard modifications included installation of new single-sideband radio equipment, additional floodlights, small arms lockers, bunks, additional sound-powered phone circuits, and the addition of 4 M-2 machine guns. The original bow mounted machine gun was replaced with a combination over-under 50 caliber machine gun/81mm trigger fired mortar that had been developed by the Coast Guard for service in Vietnam. For service in Vietnam, two officers were added to the crew complement to add seniority to the crew in the mission of interdicting vessels at sea.
Point Dume was assigned to Division 12 of Squadron One to be based at Danang, along with , , , , , , and . After sea trials, the Division left Subic Bay for Danang on 16 July 1965 in the company of , their temporary support ship. After almost two weeks at sea, they arrived at their new duty station on 20 July and began patrolling the coastal waters near Danang Duty consisted of boarding Vietnamese junks to search for contraband weapons and ammunition and check the identification papers of persons on board. Permanent engineering and logistic support of Division 12 was provided by a U.S. Navy non-self-propelled floating workshop, YR-71. During this time, the WPB's were directed to paint the hulls and superstructures formula 20 deck gray to cover the stateside white paint. This increased the effectiveness of night patrols.
While on patrol just south of the DMZ in the early morning hours of 16 August 1966 Point Dume reported seeing two rockets fired from an unidentified source hit the Navy Swift Boat
Swift Boat
Swift Boat may refer to:*a Patrol Craft Fast*Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, originally named Swift Boat Veterans For Truth*Swiftboating, political jargon for a particular form of character assassination as a smear tactic...
, PCF-19 which sank very quickly with the loss of 5 of the crew. Shortly thereafter, Point Dume came under fire from an unidentified aircraft along with the heavy cruiser and the Australian destroyer . The duration of the attack was about one hour with little damage to the cutter and Boston but considerable damage to Hobart and injury to several of her crew. Evidence showed later during a board of inquiry that it was a friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incident involving U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft mistaking the ships for enemy targets. This incident and the 11 August 1966 friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incident involving Point Welcome caused several procedures for the identification of naval vessels by Navy, Marine and Air Force aircrews to change.
On 14 February 1970, Point Dume was turned over to the Republic of Vietnam Navy
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
as part of the Vietnamization
Vietnamization
Vietnamization was a policy of the Richard M. Nixon administration during the Vietnam War, as a result of the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive, to "expand, equip, and train South Vietnam's forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, at the same time steadily reducing the number of U.S....
of the war effort and recommissioned as RVNS Trường Tiền (HQ-709).
External links
- "Point" Class 82-foot WPBs Coast Guard Historian's website