POINT WARDE, 1967
WPB 82368
Builder: J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, WA
Commissioned: 14 August 1967
Decommissioned: 29 June 2000
Disposition: Transferred to Colombia, 29 June 2000
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)
Ship's history:
The Point Warde was stationed at San Juan, PR, from 1967 to July 1987. She was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations. On 5 March 1968, she assisted following the grounding of tanker Ocean Eagle off Puerto Rico. On 11 April 1986, she helped fight fire on M/V Pizarro at San Juan. On 11 and 12 October 1969, she stood by the grounded British M/V Hawthorne Enterprise until relieved by a salvage tug. On 20 February 1970, she helped fight fire on the Spanish M/V La Mancha off San Juan. On 9 August 1970, she towed the disabled F/V Western 10 10 miles northwest of Cabo Engano until relieved by a commercial tug. From 6 to 10 October 1970, she evacuated refugees during the flooding in Puerto Rico. On 27 March 1984, she intercepted a 27-foot F/V in the Mona Passage with 30 illegal immigrants on board. They were taken to Mayaguez, PR. On 27 July 1984, she towed the disabled F/V Keika Michille to Puerto Rico. On 1 September 1984, she intercepted 4 sailboats and transported 52 to immigration officials. On 30 September 1984, she seized F/V Three Brothers 30 miles southwest of Puerto Rico with 14 tons of marijuana on board.
She was stationed at Wrightsville Beach, NC, from 1987.
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