USCGC Mohawk (WPG-78) facts for kids
.jpg) |
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | USCGC Mohawk |
| Namesake | The Mohawk Native American tribe |
| Builder | Pusey & Jones Shipbuilders, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Cost | $499,800 |
| Laid down | 1933 |
| Launched | 1 October 1934 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Ann Gibbons (daughter of the assistant secretary of the treasury, Steven Gibbons) |
| Commissioned | 19 January 1935 |
| Decommissioned | 8 January 1946 |
| In service | 1935 |
| Out of service | 1946 |
| Stricken | 1948 |
| Homeport | Cape May, New Jersey, later Boston Mass. |
| Nickname(s) | " Mighty MO" |
| Fate | Sold 1 November 1948, Sunk as an artificial reef 2 July 2012 |
| Notes | Operated as a memorial museum |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Patrol Gunboat |
| Displacement | 1,005 tons |
| Length | 165 feet |
| Beam | 36 feet |
| Draft | 12 foot 3 inches |
| Ice class | ice breaking capabilities up to 2 feet |
| Installed power | 1,500 shp |
| Propulsion | 1× Westinghouse double-reduction geared turbine, 2× foster-wheeler 310 psi 200 deg superheat boilers |
| Speed | 13.5 kt |
| Range | (max speed=1,350 miles)(economic speed=5,079 miles) |
| Crew | 124 enlisted 10 officers |
| Sensors and processing systems |
Radar SF (1945) Sonar QCJ-3 (1945) |
| Armament | 2× 3" 50 cal deck guns. 2× "mouse trap" mortars. 2× depth charge racks. 10× "k" gun depth charge projectors. 2x 20mm anti aircraft guns in single mounts on bridge wings, 1 twin mount 20mm antiaircraft gun on fantail. 1 twin mount 50cal antiaircraft battery in a gun tub forward of bridge |
The USCGC Mohawk (WPG-78) was a special ship that served in the United States Coast Guard. It was the fifth ship to be named Mohawk. This ship was built by Pusey & Jones Corp. in Wilmington, Delaware. It was launched, meaning it touched the water for the first time, on October 1, 1934. The Mohawk officially started its service on January 19, 1935.
Contents
Mohawk in Active Service
The Mohawk first worked on the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Its main jobs were patrolling and breaking ice. When World War II began, the ship was stationed in Cape May, New Jersey.
In November 1941, the Coast Guard was asked to become part of the U.S. Navy. The Mohawk then joined the Greenland Patrol. This group helped protect other ships in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Mohawk stayed with this patrol for the entire war.
Hunting Submarines
During its time with the Greenland Patrol, the Mohawk was very active. It launched 14 attacks against possible enemy submarines. These attacks happened between August 1942 and April 1945.
Helping the USS Laramie
On August 27, 1942, a ship called the USS Laramie was hit by a torpedo. The Mohawk quickly went to help. It safely guided the damaged Laramie into port in Sydney, Nova Scotia, a few days later.
A Famous Message and an Iceberg
One of the Mohawk's most famous moments happened just before the D-Day invasion in Normandy. It was the last ship to send a radio message to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This message confirmed that the weather would be clear enough for the invasion to happen.
Right after sending this important message, the Mohawk hit an iceberg. This caused a hole in its side. The crew made a temporary fix in Greenland. Then, the ship returned to the United States for full repairs.
Surviving a Friendly Fire Incident
The Mohawk also survived being accidentally attacked by British planes. While patrolling near Iceland, the planes mistook the Mohawk for an enemy ship. They bombed it, damaging the main deck. The ship had to go back to Boston for emergency repairs.
Awards and Recognition
The Mohawk received several awards for its service during the war. These included:
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
After the War
When World War II ended, the Mohawk returned to its old homeport in Cape May, New Jersey. Its wartime weapons were removed. From November 1945 to January 1946, it was stationed there.
Being Placed in Reserve
In April 1946, the Mohawk was put into "reserve" status. This meant it had a very small crew and was kept ready, but not actively used. There was talk of changing the Mohawk and similar ships into lightships, which are like floating lighthouses. However, this idea was not practical.
In October 1947, the Mohawk was officially taken out of service. It was then stored at the Coast Guard Yard.
Sold and Reused
In July 1948, the Mohawk was no longer needed by the Coast Guard. It was sold on November 1, 1948, to the Delaware Bay and River Pilots' Association. For over 30 years, it was used as a pilot boat on the Delaware River. Pilot boats help guide other ships safely into port.
In 1984, Charles Weymouth bought the Mohawk for just $1.00. Volunteers helped repair the ship. A museum called the USCG Cutter Mohawk Museum opened in 1986, but it closed in the late 1990s. The Mohawk was later moved to Staten Island.
The ship was eventually taken over by Caribbean Transport Lines. This happened because of unpaid fees for keeping the ship docked. In 2001, the ship's difficult situation was shared with the country through a special program.
USS Mohawk CGC Memorial Museum
A group called the Miami Dade Historical Maritime Museum started the USS Mohawk CGC Memorial Museum. The ship was docked in Key West, Florida, at Truman Waterfront.
Frans Boetes, who was the president of the Mohawk's Memorial Museum, found the ship in a scrap yard in Staten Island. It had been rusting there for more than 15 years. After some initial repairs, it was towed to Miami for more major fixes. Then, it went to Key West and was docked at the old Navy pier.
In 2012, the museum faced a tough choice. They did not have enough money to fix the Mohawk. They had to either sell it for scrap or sink it to create an artificial reef.
USS Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef
The museum decided that the most respectful thing to do was to sink the Mohawk as a memorial reef. This way, it would continue to serve a purpose. Starting in May 2012, the ship, nicknamed "Mighty MO," was prepared in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. It was cleaned and made ready to be sunk.
On July 2, 2012, the Mohawk was sunk 28 nautical miles off the coast of Captiva Island. It became the first dedicated veterans memorial military ship reef in the United States.
The idea for the USS Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef came from Mike Campbell. This reef has made Southwest Florida a new and popular place for diving. Divers can now explore the historic ship underwater.
The wreck is located at 26°33.075′N 82°43.481′W / 26.551250°N 82.724683°W.
