USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) facts for kids

USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)
Quick facts for kids History
United States
Name	Samual D. Ingham Ingham (May 1937)
Namesake	Samuel D. Ingham
Awarded	30 January 1934
Builder	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Laid down	1 May 1935
Launched	3 June 1936
Sponsored by	Katherine Ingham Brush
Commissioned	12 September 1936
Decommissioned	27 May 1988
Reclassified	WPG-35 (1 July 1941) WAGC-35 (24 July 1944) WHEC-35 (1 May 1965)
Motto	Never too old to serve
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Displacement	2,700 long tons (2,700 t)
Length	327 ft (100 m)
Beam	41 ft (12 m)
Installed power	2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers 6,200 hp (4,600 kW)
Propulsion	2 × Westinghouse double reduction geared steam turbine engines 2 × Propellers
Speed	21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range	8,270 nmi (15,320 km; 9,520 mi)
Complement	120 to 300 men (depending on time period)
Armament	Depending on the time period: 1 to 4 × 5" (127 mm)/38 caliber 2 × 5" (127 mm)/51 caliber 2 × 6-pounder saluting guns varying numbers of .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
Aircraft carried	originally 1 Grumman Duck seaplane, later removed
USCGC Ingham
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Ingham preserved in Key West.
Location in Florida
Location	Key West, Florida
Built	1935
Architect	US Coast Guard; Philadelphia Navy Yard
NRHP reference No.	92001879
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	27 April 1992
Designated NHL	27 April 1992

USCGC Ingham (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-35) is one of only two preserved Treasury-class United States Coast Guard Cutters. Originally Samuel D. Ingham, she was the fourth cutter to be named for Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham. She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations.

History 1934–1988

Ingham was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The Treasury Department awarded her contract on 30 January 1934. Her keel was laid on 1 May 1935, and she was launched on 3 June 1936, along with her sisters William J. Duane, Roger B. Taney and the George W. Campbell". Ingham was christened by Ms. Katherine Ingham Brush on that date and the new cutter was formally commissioned on 12 September 1936.

Ingham at U.S. Navy Yard, S.C., 11 Oct 1944

Ingham served with distinction during World War II on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to Britain, Ingham battled stormy weather, German U-boats, and enemy aircraft. On 15 December 1942, during one crossing, Ingham engaged and sank the enemy submarine U-626. After 1944, Ingham served as an amphibious flagship and she would later take part in three campaigns in the Pacific Theater. Ingham was the last active warship in the US fleet with a U-Boat kill.

Convoys escorted

Post-war service

In August 1966, Ingham rescued lone sailor William Willis off the US eastern seabord, landing him at the Argentia Coast Guard station.

Ingham in 1953

USCGC Ingham Logbook July 1968

USCG Ingham Logbook August 1968

Ingham earned two Presidential Unit Citations for her service in Operation SEA LORDS and Operation SWIFT RAIDER during the Vietnam War on a deployment from 3 August 1968 to 28 February 1969.

On completion of her deployment to Vietnam, Ingham returned to regular Coast Guard duties, serving until 1988, when she was decommissioned. At that time, Ingham was the second oldest commissioned U.S. warship afloat, second only to USS Constitution in Boston, Massachusetts.

Museum Ship and Memorial

Ingham at Patriots Point in 1990

Acquired by Patriot's Point (located near Charleston, South Carolina) in 1989, Ingham was displayed along with the aircraft carrier Yorktown, the destroyer Laffey, and the submarine Clamagore until 20 August 2009.

On 20 August 2009 Ingham was towed to the Coast Guard piers in North Charleston, South Carolina for minor repairs and to await dry docking. She underwent a short dry docking period at Detyen's Shipyard in North Charleston and was then towed to Key West, Florida arriving there on 24 November 2009. She is now a member of Key West Maritime Memorial Museum.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard has declared Ingham the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Killed in Action in World War II and Vietnam. These 912 casualties are identified on a memorial plaque on Ingham's quarterdeck. Ingham was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Awards

Ribbons and Medals painted on in January 2010.

• Presidential Unit Citation – 2 awards
• Coast Guard Unit Commendation - 2 awards with "O" device
• Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation – 2 awards
• Coast Guard E Ribbon – 3 awards
• China Service Medal
• American Defense Service Medal with "A" device
• American Campaign Medal with one battle star
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two battle stars
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with star
• Vietnam Service Medal with three campaign stars
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
• Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Gallery

• 

  Ingham in 1953

• 

  The Ingham ca. 1965

• 

  USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) off Vietnam ca. 1968

• 

  Ingham in Key West in 2019

• 

  Executive Officer's stateroom

• 

  View of the bow of the Ingham with a 5"/38 caliber gun, and a 6-pounder saluting gun

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Coast Guard document "Ingham WPG / WAGC / WHEC-35 (Ex-Samuel D. Ingham)".