POINT SAL, 1966
WPB 82352
Builder: J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, WA
Commissioned: 5 December 1966
Decommissioned: 29 May 2001
Disposition: Transferred to Colombia, 29 May 2001
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.
Ship's history:
The Point Sal was stationed at Grand Isle, LA. She was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations. On 16 November 1967, she escorted the distressed F/V Robert Frank 45 miles southwest of Grand Isle to Belle Pass. On 10 December 1967, she stood by the grounded M/V Arkansas 60 miles east-southeast of New Orleans. On 25 December 1967, she helped fight fire on M/V Gulf Supreme at Ostrica, LA. On 28 December 1968, she helped fight fire on tug Todd Rick 20 miles west of Southwest Pass. On 11 February 1968, she towed the disabled F/V Noah’s Ark 30 miles south-southeast of Grand Isle to that port. On 3 April 1968, she helped disperse oil slick by applying a chemical dispersant off Grand Isle. On 20 April 1968, she escorted the distressed F/V Wilma Ann 15 miles southeast of Grand Isle to that port. On 21 and 22 August 1968, she assisted following a fire on oil rig Little Bob 25 miles east of Grand Isle. On 14 July 1969, she stood by the disabled tanker Texaco Nevada 275 miles south of New Orleans until a commercial tug arrived. On 20 August 1985, she seized the Macvic carrying 25 tons of marijuana.
Sources:
"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