USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) facts for kids
USCGC Bramble
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Quick facts for kids History |
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  United States |
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| Name | Bramble |
| Builder | Zenith Dredge Company, Duluth, Minnesota |
| Cost | $925,464 |
| Laid down | 02 August 1943 |
| Launched | 23 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 22 April 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 22 May 2003 |
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| Status | Museum ship |
| Notes | The USCG call sign of Bramble was NODK. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Class C or Iris-class seagoing buoy tenders |
| Displacement | 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) |
| Length | 180 ft (54.9 m) oa. |
| Beam | 37 ft (11.3 m) mb. |
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| Propulsion | 2 × General Motors EMD 645 V8 diesel engines |
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
| Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
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| Sensors and processing systems |
Radar: SL-1 (1945). Sonar WEA (1945) |
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USCGC Bramble
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| Location | 2336 Military St. Port Huron, Michigan |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000457 |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 2012 |
USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) was a special ship built for the United States Coast Guard. She was one of 39 "seagoing buoy tenders," which are ships that help keep waterways safe. Bramble was 180 feet long and served from 1944 to 2003. She sailed in many places, including the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and the Great Lakes. A big adventure for Bramble was sailing around North America in 1957. This trip included a difficult journey through the Northwest Passage. After her service, Bramble became a museum ship in Port Huron, Michigan. Later, she was sold to a private owner.
Contents
Building a Ship: The Story of Bramble
The ship Bramble was built by the Zenith Dredge Company. This company is located in Duluth, Minnesota. The first ideas for Bramble's design came from the United States Lighthouse Service. Then, another company, Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation, finished the design.
The ship's keel was laid down on August 2, 1943. This is like laying the backbone of the ship. She was then launched into the water on October 23, 1943. Finally, Bramble was officially ready for duty on April 22, 1944. Building the ship's main body and engines cost $925,464.
Bramble's Adventures: Early Years (1944–1957)
In the spring of 1945, Bramble left the Great Lakes. Her first home was San Pedro, California. Here, she helped with "aids to navigation." These are things like buoys and lighthouses that guide ships safely. Later that year, Bramble moved to Juneau, Alaska. She helped deliver supplies and maintain navigation aids around the Aleutian Islands.
After World War II, Bramble's homeport changed to San Francisco. She stayed there until 1949, except for a short time in Hawaii in 1946. From July to October 1947, Bramble took part in "Operation Crossroads." This was a test of how an atomic bomb would affect ships. It happened at Bikini Island.
In 1949, Bramble was sent to San Juan, Puerto Rico. She moved again in 1953 to Miami, Florida. Around this time, people became very interested in the Northwest Passage. This led to a new and exciting mission for Bramble.
Sailing the Northwest Passage in 1957
Three Coast Guard Cutters were chosen for a very difficult journey. These were Bramble, USCGC Spar, and USCGC Storis. Their goal was to sail along the northern coast of Canada. They wanted to go from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
To get ready, Bramble had a special stainless steel propeller installed. Her bow (front part) was also made stronger. This was to help her push through the thick Arctic ice pack. Bramble started this amazing adventure from Miami on May 24, 1957. She sailed to Seattle, Washington by going through the Panama Canal.
On July 1, 1957, the three ships left Seattle. They headed for the Atlantic through the Bering Strait and the Arctic Ocean. The ships traveled over 4,500 nautical miles (about 8,300 kilometers). They sailed through waters that were not fully mapped. The journey took 64 days. They crossed the Arctic Circle again into the Atlantic. This mission was a huge success. These three cutters were the first American surface ships to sail all the way around the North American continent. On December 2, 1957, Bramble returned to Miami.
Life on the Great Lakes (1957–1985)
In 1962, Bramble moved to Detroit, Michigan. Her jobs there included helping with navigation aids, search and rescue missions, breaking ice, and enforcing laws. She did all these duties across the Great Lakes.
Bramble had a big update and repair in 1974. Her engines were taken out and rebuilt. Her living areas were made bigger and more modern. A new hydraulic crane was also added.
After this big renovation, Bramble moved to Port Huron, Michigan in September 1975. Besides her usual duties, Bramble also had some special missions. She often led the patrol for the Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race. This is one of the biggest freshwater sailboat races in the country. It started in 1925, and about 300 boats race each year. Bramble also helped set up buoys for the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival in the Detroit River.
More Adventures (1986–1998)
From December 1986 to April 1987, Bramble worked in the Caribbean. Her job was to help enforce laws. During this time, she was involved in six cases. One ship was taken, three people were arrested, and 50 tons of illegal goods were found.
From June to November 1989, Bramble had another major renovation in Toledo, Ohio. Her old engines were replaced with new General Motors V-8 diesel engines. New electrical generators, boilers, and new wiring were also part of this project.
The year 1994 was special for Bramble. It marked her 50th anniversary since she was first put into service. Her sister ships on the Great Lakes, USCGC Acacia and USCGC Sundew, also celebrated this milestone.
From December 1997 to April 1998, Bramble took part in "Operation Snowbird." This mission took the cutter to the Caribbean again. The main goal was to help train the marine police from ten countries in the eastern Caribbean. While there, the crew also worked on navigation aids. They also joined Venezuela in a shared law enforcement operation. During this mission, Bramble traveled over 12,165 miles.
Final Years of Service (1998–2003)
Brambles main job was "aids to navigation." These aids help merchant ships and private boats navigate waterways safely. Brambles area of responsibility included eastern Lake Erie, southern Lake Huron, and Saginaw Bay. She was in charge of maintaining 187 buoys, one NOAA weather buoy, and three fog signals.
In winter, Bramble used her icebreaker skills. She would escort ships through the ice. She also helped ships that were stuck and broke ice to clear paths.
Bramble usually went out twice a year for buoy operations. In late fall or early winter, she spent about eight to ten weeks "decommissioning buoys." This meant removing the large buoys and putting in smaller, temporary ones for winter. About 101 lighted buoys would be taken out. Then, in early spring, as the lake ice melted, Bramble would start the "buoy commissioning" season. This took eight to ten weeks to replace the winter marks with the regular buoys. She also serviced and checked about 86 unlighted aids in the spring.
During winter, when not breaking ice, Bramble usually had maintenance and training. Her summers were often spent in drydock for repairs. She also attended training conferences and festival celebrations around the lakes.
New technology brought new ships. The new 225-foot Juniper-class cutters began to replace the older 180-foot ships like Bramble. The new cutters also have many jobs, just like Bramble. They can help with environmental cleanups, search and rescue, law enforcement, and icebreaking.
On May 22, 2003, Bramble was officially taken out of service. Her replacement was the Juniper-class cutter USCGC Hollyhock.
Awards and Honors
Throughout her service, Bramble received many awards and ribbons. These include the Department of Transportation Gold Medal, CG Unit Commendation, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG "E" Ribbon, CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Arctic Service Medal, and the Special Operations Service Ribbon.
Bramble as a Museum Ship
After being taken out of service, Bramble became a museum ship. She was docked at the Seaway Terminal and given to the Port Huron Museum. However, she closed to the public in 2011 because there wasn't enough money to keep her open. In August 2012, she was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In January 2013, Robert B Klingler bought the ship. He was from Marine City, Michigan. He started a company called USCGC Bramble LLC. Some restoration work was done, and the ship continued as a museum. She also made short trips sometimes. Bramble was even used as the basis for a ship in the movie Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Future Plans for Bramble
In December 2018, Bramble was sold to Tom Clarke of Roanoke, Virginia. He planned to send the ship to a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama in Spring 2019. The goal was to get her ready to repeat her historic 1957 trip. This would involve sailing around North America, including the Northwest Passage.
However, this plan was canceled. Bramble's new owner ran out of money. The ship was then taken from him to be sold at an auction in Mobile, Alabama. On December 4, 2019, the Bramble was sold at a public auction. The United States Marshals Service sold her for $80,000. The company that bought her was M.A.R.S., Modern American Recycling Services, Inc.
