Point Franklin, 1966
WPB 82350
Builder: J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, WA
Commissioned: 14 November 1966
Decommissioned: 23 June 1998
Disposition: Transferred to Venezuela, 3 August 1998
Length: 82’10” oa, 78’ bp
Navigation Draft: 5’11” max (1960)
Beam: 17’7” max
Displacement: 69 fl; 60 light (1960)
Main Engines: 2 Cummins diesel (see class history)
BHP: 1,600
Performance, Maximum Sustained: 18.0 kts, 542-mi radius (1,600 hp, 1963)
Performance, Economic: 9.4 kts, 1,500-mi radius (1,600 hp, 1963)
Maximum Speed: 22.9 kts (1963)
Fuel Capacity: 1,840 gal
Complement: 8 men (1960), 2 officers, 8 men (1965)
Electronics:
Radar: SPN-11, CR-103 (1960), or SPS-64
Armament: 1 x 20mm (1960), 5 x .50 cal mg, 1 x 81 mm mortar (Vietnam service)
Class History—The 82-foot patrol boats have mild steel hulls and aluminum superstructures. Longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight.
These boats were completed with a variety of power plants. 82301 through 82313, 82315 through 82317, and 82319 through 82331 were powered by two Cummins 600-hp diesels. Boats 82318 and 82332 through 82379 received two Cummins 800-hp diesels. The 82314 was fitted with two 1,000-hp gas turbines and controllable-pitch propellers. The purpose of this installation was to permit the service to evaluate the propulsion equipment. All units were eventually fitted with the 800-hp diesels. Units remaining in 1990 were re-equipped with Caterpillar diesels.
WPB 82301 through 82344 were commissioned without names; at that time the Coast Guard did not name patrol craft shorter than 100 feet. In January 1964 they were assigned names.
Cutter History:
The Point Franklin was stationed at Cape May, NJ. She was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations. On 26 November 1967, she medevaced a wounded crewman from M/V Timaru Star 45 miles south-southwest of Delaware Light Station. On 1 March 1968, she escorted the distressed F/V Bright Star 25 miles southeast of Cape May to safe waters. On 17 August 1968, she assisted the distressed M/V Green Lake 25 miles southeast of Ocean City, Md. On 25 August 1969, she assisted and escorted a distressed 19-foot pleasure craft off Ocean City. On 12 December 1969, she towed the disabled sailboat Dora to Ocean City. On 26 November 1970, she towed the disabled F/V Sharron Ann following a collision with M/V Concordia Sun off Cape May. In September 1985, she helped seize tug Capstan 240 miles east of Cape Charles carrying 30 tons of marijuana. On 15 December 1986, she fought fire on the tug Kathryne McAllister 5 miles east of Avalon, NJ.
OFFICERS IN CHARGE
USCGC POINT FRANKLIN
WPB-82350
BMCS R.P. SMITH: 1966-1970
BMC F. WARREN: 1970-1972
BMC J.R. NASH: 1972-1974
BMC N.L. CANTRELL: 1974-1976
BMCS R.F. LAIRD: 1976
BMCM F. TURPIN: 1977-1978
QMCM C.W. TURNER: 1992-1995
QMCM S.A. MORT: 1995-1996
BMCM H.J. BECHTLER: 1996
QMCM G.F. YATES: 1996-1998
QMCM L.A. PIERCE: 1998
COMMANDING OFFICERS
USCGC POINT FRANKLIN
WPB-82350
LTJG J.H. OLTHUIS: 1978-1980
LTJG J.W. YOST: 1980-1982
LTJG G.J. REZENDES: 1982-1984
LTJG B.D. KELLY: 1984-1986
LTJG B.L. WHITE: 1986-1988
LTJG C.D. MARSH, JR.: 1988-1990
LTJG D.W. JILLSON: 1990-1992
Sources:
Cutter History File. USCG Historian's Office, USCG HQ, Washington, D.C.
"The 82-Foot Class Patrol Boat." U.S. Coast Guard Engineer's Digest No. 133 (Mar-Apr 1962), pp. 2-5.
Robert Scheina. U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1990.