USCGC Elm (WAGL-260/WLI-72260)

USCGC Elm (WAGL-260/WLI-72260) was an inland buoy tender used maintain aids to navigation by the United States Coast Guard.

USCGC Elm
History
 United States
Name: USCGC Elm
Operator:
  • U. S. Lighthouse Service (1938 - 1939)
  • U.S. Coast Guard (1939 - 1969)
Builder: Defoe Boat and Motor Works
Commissioned: April 1, 1938
Decommissioned: July 30, 1969
Stricken: June 19, 1972
Homeport: Atlantic City, New Jersey
Identification: Call Sign NRWM
General characteristics
Displacement: 77 tons at full load
Length: 72.33 ft (22.05 m)
Beam: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Draft: 5 ft (1.5 m)
Installed power: 2 x 150 hp Diesel engines
Propulsion: 2 propellers
Speed: 9 knots
Range: 900 miles at 8 knots
Complement: 9 enlisted

Construction

Elm was designed for maintaining aids to navigation in the shallow waters of New Jersey rivers. She was meant to replace the wooden USLHT Pine.[1] She was built by Defoe Boat and Motor Works of Bay City, Michigan. The contract price was $77,177. Elm was 72.33 feet (22.05 m) long, with a beam of 17.5 feet (5.3 m), and a draft of 5 feet (1.5 m). At full load, her displacement was 77 tons.[2]. Her hull was built of steel plates. Her derrick had a working capacity of 2,000 pounds (910 kg).[3]

Elm had two propellers which were driven by two 150 hp Diesel engines.[3]

Sea trials for the new ship were held on November 17, 1937 off Bay City.[1]

Operational history

After launch and sea trials, Elm left Bay City on November 19, 1937.[4] She sailed down through the New York Barge Canal and Hudson River to reach her new homeport of Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1]

The ship was ordered, launched. and commissioned by the United States Lighthouse Service. On July 1, 1939, the US Lighthouse Service, including Elm, was merged into the United States Coast Guard. Elm changed her moorage in Atlantic City as a result of this reorganizational. She moved from a municipal dock to the new Coast Guard base in 1940.[5]

While her primary mission was maintaining aids to navigation, she also supported the Coast Guard's other missions. She was involved in search and rescue operations throughout her career.[6][7]

As part of the Coast Guard, Elm was designated WAGL, classifying her as an auxiliary vessel, buoy tender. In 1966 the ship designation scheme was changed and the ship was redesignated WLI, buoy tender, inland.

Elm was decommissioned at Governor's Island, New York on July 30, 1969.[8] After a brief ceremony she was towed to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore for storage. The ship was replaced by USCGC Brier, which was moved from Brunswick, Georgia to Atlantic City.[9] Elm was struck on June 19, 1972.[10]

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References
  1. "New Lighthouse Tender Is Given Her Trial Trips". Chicago Tribune. November 25, 1937.
  2. Silverstone, Paul (2012-09-10). The Navy of World War II, 1922-1947. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-86472-9.
  3. The Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1937. p. 115.
  4. "Boat Clears for New York". Detroit Times. November 19, 1937.
  5. "Lighthouse Service Changes Shore Base". Courier-Post. July 5, 1940.
  6. "Red Flares Bring Aid To Disabled Launch". Morning News. February 20, 1947.
  7. "Nearby Homes Damaged". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 7, 1946.
  8. "Cutter Elm Ends Service". Philadelphia Inquirer. August 1, 1969.
  9. "Boat "Retired" by Coast Guard". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 28, 1966.
  10. Silverstone, Paul (2011-04-06). The Navy of the Nuclear Age, 1947–2007. Routledge. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-135-86466-8.
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