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USCGC Winona (WHEC-65)
Encyclopedia
USCGC Winona (WHEC-65) was an Owasco class
high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard
. The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently she did not see wartime service until the Vietnam War
.
Winona was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Named after Winona Lake, Indiana
, she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-65 on 19 April 1946. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-65 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).
until 31 May 1974.
On 17 November 1948, she towed the disabled MV Herald of Morning. On 10 June 1949, she assisted FV Alice B 2 miles off South Amphitrite Point. On 13 February 1950, she towed the disabled MV Edgecombe to Seattle, Washington
. On 16 June 1951, she escorted FV Sea Lark to Ketchikan, Alaska
. On 18 and 19 March 1952, she assisted the disabled MV Darton until relived by a commercial tug. From 23 to 25 December 1952, she assisted MV Maple Cove at 48°22’N, 134°26’W. On 13 February 1954, she assisted FV Western Fisherman. On 20 December 1954, she medevaced a crewman from MV General Pope. She patrolled the Gold Cup Races at Seattle, Washington, on 7 August 1955. Winona served on Bering Sea
patrol from July to September 1956. She was back performing that same task from 20 July to 21 September 1963.
, from 25 January to 17 October 1968. On 1 March the Winona sank a North Vietnamese
Trawler designated T-A. , the Winona was the last victorious vessel in a single ship action.
until commercial tugs arrived. On 20 July 1969, she assisted in the operations following the sinking of a barge loaded with diesel fuel near Admiralty Inlet
. On 28 October 1970, she provided medical assistance to Urea Maru 300 miles off San Francisco.
Owasco class cutter
The Owasco Class Cutter was a cutter class operated by the United States Coast Guard. A total of thirteen cutters in the class were built, all named after lakes. Eleven were constructed by the Western Pipe & Steel Company at San Pedro, California, while the remaining two—Mendota and...
high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently she did not see wartime service until the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Winona was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Named after Winona Lake, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-65 on 19 April 1946. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-65 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).
Peacetime service
From 15 August 1946 to 11 September 1947, Winona was stationed at San Pedro, California, and used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations. She was subsequently homeported at Port Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
until 31 May 1974.
On 17 November 1948, she towed the disabled MV Herald of Morning. On 10 June 1949, she assisted FV Alice B 2 miles off South Amphitrite Point. On 13 February 1950, she towed the disabled MV Edgecombe to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. On 16 June 1951, she escorted FV Sea Lark to Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
. On 18 and 19 March 1952, she assisted the disabled MV Darton until relived by a commercial tug. From 23 to 25 December 1952, she assisted MV Maple Cove at 48°22’N, 134°26’W. On 13 February 1954, she assisted FV Western Fisherman. On 20 December 1954, she medevaced a crewman from MV General Pope. She patrolled the Gold Cup Races at Seattle, Washington, on 7 August 1955. Winona served on Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
patrol from July to September 1956. She was back performing that same task from 20 July to 21 September 1963.
Vietnam War
Winona was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, VietnamVietnam
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 –...
, from 25 January to 17 October 1968. On 1 March the Winona sank a North Vietnamese
Vietnam People's Navy
The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva...
Trawler designated T-A. , the Winona was the last victorious vessel in a single ship action.
Return to peacetime duties
On 31 January 1969, Winona stood by MV Belmona following a fire 15 miles southwest of Cape FlatteryCape Flattery
Cape Flattery may refer to:* Cape Flattery * Cape Flattery , between North Direction Island, South Direction Island and Three Islands...
until commercial tugs arrived. On 20 July 1969, she assisted in the operations following the sinking of a barge loaded with diesel fuel near Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet is a strait in the U.S. state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound. It lies between Whidbey Island and the northeastern part of the Olympic Peninsula....
. On 28 October 1970, she provided medical assistance to Urea Maru 300 miles off San Francisco.
Decommissioning
The ship was decommissioned on 31 May 1974 and was laid-up at the U.S. Coast Guard Base, Alameda, California until she was scrapped in late 1976.See also
- Action of 1 March 1968Action of 1 March 1968The Action of 1 March 1968 refers to three naval engagements fought during the Vietnam War on the same morning. A large force of American and South Vietnamese warships assigned to Operation Market Time engaged three North Vietnamese ships at different locations along the South Vietnamese coast...