USCGC Androscoggin (WHEC-68)

USCGC "Androscoggin" (WHEC-68) 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 "Androscoggin" did not see wartime service until the Vietnam war.

"Androscoggin" was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Named after Androscoggin Lake, Maine, she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-68 on 26 September 1946. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-68 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).

Peacetime service

"Androscoggin" was stationed at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1947 and 1948. She was used primarily on ocean station duty in the North Atlantic. From 1948 to 3 July 1949, she was stationed at New York.

"Decommissioned 1949"

She was decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland, from 31 October 1949 to 8 May 1950.

"Recommissioned 1950"

On 8 May 1950, "Androscoggin" received the crew from cutter "Mocoma", was recommissioned, and stationed at Miami Beach, Florida, until 27 February 1973.

"Androscoggin" was now used primarily for law enforcement and search and rescue operations, but also served several ocean station tours. On 29 and 30 May 1952, she towed a disabled Navy PBM aircraft from 60 miles southeast of Miami to Miami, Florida. In 1956, she served on Campeche Patrol. In April and May 1956, she was assigned special duty relating to LORAN and visited Ecuador, Jamaica, Colombia, and Panama. In July 1956, she served on the annual reserve cruise to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. From 17 April to 4 July 1959, she shared International Ice Patrol duty with the "Acushnet". She sailed to Reykjavik, Iceland, in January 1960 on a special mission.

"Berlin crisis"

In November 1961, she took part in a special mission involving the USAF and Air National Guard relating to the Berlin crisis.

"Training ship"

In 1962, the Androscoggin served as Coast Guard schoolship at the Navy’s Fleet Sonar School, Key West.

"Cuban refugees and other rescues"

In late August 1965, she evacuated Cuban refugees from Cay Sal to Key West. On 10 January 1966, she rescued the crew from the sinking MV "Lampsis" and unsuccessfully attempted to save the vessel. On 3 February 1966, she stood by the distressed MV "Aroin" until a commercial tug arrived. On 19 February 1966, she rescued three Cuban refugees from Anguila Cay and transported them to Miami. On 25 May 1966, she embarked 12 Cuban refugees from Cay Lobos and transported them to Key West.

"Movie part"

When returning from an Echo patrol, "Androscoggin" was dispatched to Nassau to take part in the filming of the movie "Assault on a Queen," starring Frank Sinatra. In the final segments of the film, Androscoggin, through the miracle of special effects, saves the day by ramming and sinking a renegade submarine, thereby thwarting Sinatra's dastardly plan to rob HMS "Queen Mary" on the high seas. [Information courtesy of Androscoggin crewman John Burmester as recorded at the USCG website.]

Vietnam war

"Androscoggin" was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, Vietnam, from 4 December 1967 to 4 August 1968. On 1 March 1968, she assisted in the destruction of an enemy steel trawler in a gun battle at the mouth of the Song Cau River. In May 1968, she rescued 27 Vietnamese from the South China Sea.

Return to peacetime duties

In 1969, "Androscoggin" assisted the Dutch MV "Alida Gothern". On 19 February 1970, she stood by the disabled MV "Stellanova" until a commercial tug arrived. On 29 April 1970, she provided medical assistance to USS "Dahlgren" off Bermuda.

Decommissioning

She was decommissioned on 27 February 1973, and sold for scrap on 7 October 1974.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Androscoggin_1946.html "Androscoggin" WHEC-68] , United States' Coast Guard website.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981, pp. 1-3.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 18-26.