The Treasury-class cutters proved highly adaptable, dependable, versatile and long-lived warships. On the 17th SS Fort Rampart was reported torpedoed and Spencer screened the Canadian escort during rescue operations. Hollandia. At 1140 Spencer commenced firing all guns and observed many hits on the conning tower and at its base. Your email address will not be published. At one point we literally were forced to tack in order to change course. On board her for this voyage were 24 of her World War II crew. Spencer made the announcement Thursday alongside Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, in a ceremony aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle in Cherbourg, France. https://military.wikia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Coast_Guard_cutters Like all other Coast Guard vessels that sailed as part of the Navy during World War II, the cutter Spencer served right alongside Naval Ships-of-the-Line and matched them blow for blow through some of the most demanding actions. I always thought it exciting for the CG ship to have actually sank a Nazi submarine. She was decommissioned on 23 January 1974. *Coast Guard Cutter Spencer is scheduled to shift homeports to Portsmouth, VA in 2021* Commanding Officer, CDR Thomas C. Rodzewicz Executive Officer, LCDR Nolan J. Cuevas These made them ride even worse. Association membership was initially opened to World War II crew members and eventually to all former crew members. At 1138 a submarine [U-175] surfaced to conning tower depth at 2,500 yards, drawing slowly right, still underway but apparently damaged. In the years immediately preceding U.S. entry into the conflict and over the subsequent four years, eight months of fighting, the Coast Guard's responsibilities grew exponentially. Although I never knew him, I have been told by my father and his siblings that my Grandfather Aubrey Rogers was the gunnery officer aboard the CGC Spencer during the sinking of this U-boat. At 1117 she regained it and fired mousetraps. They were built to run from Atoll lagoon to atoll lagoon in the South Pacific, preferably on a nice day. When the United States entered World War II the Coast Guard temporarily became part of the United States Navy. Another reason the Navy were jealous of her is that she was a tremendous seaboat, and a much more comfortable ride than anything near her size the navy owned. One time he told me when leaving the pier from Bayonne, the ship was not properly untied and pulled the dock down as it left, causing a band playing on the pier to end up in the river. On the way from New York to Gitmo, we got stuck in a storm off Hatteras and actually hove to to avoid damage on our way to training. 2 boat with a submarine boarding party. They just did what they thought was their duty. Air. Following a Coast Guard tradition, a new 270-foot medium-endurance cutter commissioned in 1986 was named the Spencer. The last of the Secretary class cutters is moored in Baltimore. Lt. James Crotty as lieutenant junior grade aboard a Coast Guard cutter. On the 13th one escort was 25 miles to the north with four stragglers. I’ve tried finding a list of crew names who served on the Spencer during the time in question but no luck. That was typical of his amazing generation. They were never meant for the North Atlantic, but we used them on ocean stations for years. Boats (Less than 65 ft) Cutters (65 ft or greater) Other Vessels (Non-CG) USCGC Tampa Notable People. She finished the war in the Pacific. 1 boat had been damaged by a projectile and the superstructure had been damaged by shrapnel–all of the damage was caused by friendly fire as the gunners on board many of the nearby merchant ships failed to clear Spencer while firing at the surfaced U-boat. My Dad’s ship, PY20, the USS Tourmaline, saw the Spencer in action while conducting convoy assembly escort duty along the east coast of the US during the height of the submarine attacks in 1942 & 1943 before being transferred to the Pacific Theater. Following in my Grandfather’s footsteps, I too joined the U.S. Coast Guard and retired several years ago after a seccessful career. On Sep. 12, 1941, nearly three months before the Pearl Harbor attack, the crew of Coast Guard cutter Northland conducted the first U.S. raid of the war. Assets. ... On Jan. 31, the Secretary-class cutter Spencer, converted into an amphibious-force flagship, helped to direct landings south of the entrance to Manila Bay. One German officer and 18 men were rescued by Spencer and 22 by Duane. The U. S. Coast Guard in World War II . She returned to combat duty off the Vietnam coast in January 1969. The Duane, in the immediate vicinity, assisted, firing all batteries, while merchant vessels in rear columns of the convoy opened fire on the submarine, some projectiles passing it and landing close to and on Spencer. The Medium Endurance Cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter mainly consisting of the 270-foot (82 m) Famous- and 210-foot (64 m) Reliance-class cutters.These larger cutters are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area). The Spencer served over 37 years, and when decommissioned in 1974, was the most decorated cutter in the Coast Guard’s fleet. All US Navy AGCs, LCCs, and Coast Guard WAGCs; Fred's Place -- The Place to Meet Old Shipmates; Jack's Joint-- an Unofficial Guast Guard Library and More... U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II, Robert L. Scheina. My dad, fluent in German, was told to get the prisoner’s names and ranks. As with all wars, World War II had a transformative effect on America's military services. I got to board the ship once in New Jersey, and as a 10 year old it was very exciting. Spencer saw service in the Pacific War. The sinking of U-175. After I left the Spencer they painted her gray and sent her off to Vietnam. At 1145 Spencer ceased firing and maneuvered in the vicinity of the disabled submarine. Parachuting out of bomber shot down over France, An English girl’s love letter for the Gestapo. Spencer returned to the United States in November 1969 and continued her peace-time mission of ocean station keeping. On 28 August, after her arrival in the 13th Naval District, she was returned to Treasury Department jurisdiction. I am told my Grandfather is one of the three sailors wearing an officers combination cover standing on the fantail of the Spencer of the historical photo with the deapthcharge bloom in the background. Spencer was assigned to the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, in the Pacific in late 1944, where she served as a Communications Command Ship. At 0646 she established a contact and dropped a pattern of 10 charges and half an hour later fired mousetraps on another contact. Subsequent contacts were non-sub or lost and Spencer rejoined the convoy. They were single screw and had icebreaker bows. Alex Obrizok, a World War II veteran, held on to a Coast Guard ensign, a flag from his ship the Tampa, for 70 years. After fitting out at Charleston, the cutter sailed north to the Fifth Coast Guard district, with Norfolk, Va., as her assigned home port. The 230 foot Coast Guard Cutter Storis, designed to serve as a supply ship for Bluie bases, was commissioned on 30 September 1942. A truly awesome expierence. The Allies drove toward Manila and captured the capital city Feb. 6, but several strongpoints still remained in Japanese hands. On 3 September 1939, two days after the German invasion of Poland, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. Share Followers 0. My wife and I visited Dieter and his wife in Germany in 2012. She was then sold to the North American Smelting Company and scrapped. I think it was to Argentia, Newfoundland. She then was transferred to the United States Coast Guard and was in commission as the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Barataria (WAVP-381), later WHEC-381 from 1949 to 1969, serving in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War during her lengthy Coast Guard career. The Coast Guard war diaries include Abstracts of War Diaries, 5/1942 - 9/1945, which are arranged by year and thereunder by unit, and include highlights of outstanding activities and operations by Coast Guard ships and shore units during World War II. While still under Navy control, the cutter departed New York on 26 June 1919, bound for the west coast. Inactive; 1,429 posts; When I was on the Half Moon ( WHEC 378 ) we tied up across from the Spencer. My brother never wanted to go on a cruiseship after spending a full three years on air sea rescue in the Atlantic. We had to turn the other way, heading up into the wind and then falling off the other side to make our turn. (U.S. Coast Guard) The Coast Guard conducted the first U.S. raid of WWII. Onboard her for this voyage were 24 of her World War II crew. Welcome Aboard the USCGC SPENCER (WMEC 905) The Coast Guard Base is located at the intersection of Hanover and Commercial St. Best time to contact your sponsor will vary depending on Spencer's in port time, However, when in port, Spencer's crew can best be contacted between the hours of 0700 and 1300, Mon-Thurs. For ten months she carried out surveillance to prevent troops and supplies from getting into South Vietnam. After the war Spencer returned to her Coast Guard duties, serving in the Atlantic Ocean. Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medals, http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Spencer1937.asp, http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html, http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html, http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sc/index.html, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/USCGC_Spencer_(WPG-36)?oldid=2646226, Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls. These ships were also collectively known as the "327's" as they were all 327 feet (100 m) in length. The class were called the "Treasury class" because they were each named for former Secretaries of the Treasury. A historical document that may be getting donated to the museum in New Orleans. This Association was founded by 24 WWII Veterans who served aboard USCG Cutter Spencer 36. She was a naphtha tanker which had been in a collision in Kill Van Kull, and then blew up again in Gravesend Bay when they were trying to unload the remaining naphtha. My dad didn’t speak much about his time on the Spencer and the only combat experience he ever mention was a kamikaze attack. Very good read. He was the last of the U-175 survivors. 501stGeronimo. He also saw the Spencer undergoing engine replacement due to its hard charging actions in defense of the convoys a complex process involving the detachment of the aft deck in order to remove and replace burned out engines. Learn how your comment data is processed. Does anyone know what issue of Life Magazine this appeared in? At 1140 Spencer commenced firing all guns and observed many hits on the conning tower and at its base. The USCGC Northland in World War II. There she was credited with taking part in numerous amphibious assaults including Luzon and Palawan in the Philippines Campaign. During the Battle of Atlantic she acted as a convoy escort, hunting German U-boats, and was responsible for sinking U-175in 1943. The convoy proceeded due east to avoid submarines reported south of Greenland and Iceland. Commissioned in 1937, she was first used as a search and rescue unit off Alaska's fishing grounds. She’s the Taney and is wonderfully preserved. Dad also told me that the Spencer and the Tourmaline almost collided in heavy seas during one convoy mission. These cutters have adequate accommodations for crew to live on board and can do 6 to 8 week patrols. Twenty five of Spencer’s men were injured, one dying of his wounds [RM 3/c Julius Petrella]. Very little in the way of boasting. Location: 35°54'7.61"N, 75°23'42.47"W (35.902116, -75.395133) Depth:77 feet Vessel Type:U.S. Coast Guard Active Class Patrol Boat Length: 125 feet Breadth:23 feet 6 inches Gross Tonnage: 232 tons Cargo:N/A Built: American Brown Boveri Electric Company, Camden, New Jersey, and commissioned on March 14, 1927 Hull Number: Unknown Port of Registry: Morehead City, North Carolina, USA Owner:U.S. Coast Guard Former Names:None Date Lost:September 14, 1944 Sunk By: Great Atlantic Hurricane Surv… All Lighthouses & Light Stations Stations & Units Water. Your email address will not be published. For anyone interested in the role of the Coast Guard in World War II, this is the book to check out. Naval Institute Press (1982) ISBN 0-87021-717-8 U.S. Coast Guard in World War II, Malcolm F. Willoughby. When the United States entered World War II the Coast Guard temporarily became part of the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1937, she was first used as a search and rescue unit off Alaska's fishing grounds. USCGC Spencer (WPG-36) was a Treasury-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard that served during World War II.[1]. Spencer saw service in the Pacific War. At 1238 Spencer began picking up survivors alongside. The Spencer served for over 37 years and when decommissioned in 1974 she was the most decorated cutter in the Coast Guard's fleet. COAST GUARD CUTTER SINKS SUB: Coast Guardsmen on the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter SPENCER watch the explosion of a depth charge which blasted a Nazi U-Boat’s hope of breaking into the center of a large convoy. He had volunteered to make his way in the heavy seas to the aft depth charge racks to tighten them down their having come loose in the rough ocean at some considerable risk to his person. All Coast Guard units served with distinction in missions supporting the war effort even before formal U.S. entry into World War II. In an instant it had disappeared. One straggler was reported. World War II. By 501stGeronimo, June 28, 2013 in BOB GILL MEMORIAL GROUPINGS PAGE. During the Battle of Atlantic she acted as a convoy escort, hunting German U-boats, and was responsible for sinking U-175 in 1943. Original caption, “NAZI SUBMARINE SUNK BY THE FAMED CUTTER USCGC SPENCER (WPG-36): Effect of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC SPENCER (WPG-36)'S fire are visible in this close-up shot of the U-Boat, taken as the battle raged. Medical Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1899 - 1934; Telegraph and Radio Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1910 - 1916; Logbooks of Lighthouse Tenders, 1873 - 1941; For U.S. Coast Guard logs from 1972 to the 1980s see our Regional Archives depending on the vessel's home port and location of station. Hope this story adds to the lore of the USCGC Spencer. Sold for scrapping on 8 October 1981 to North American Smelting Co. 2,216 long tons (2,252 t; 2,482 short tons), 12,300 nautical miles (22,780 km) at 11 knots (20.4 km/h), 1937: 12 officers, 4 warrants, 107 enlisted, 1941: 16 officers, 5 warrants, 202 enlisted, 1966: 10 officers, 3 warrants, 134 enlisted, 2 x MK13 high altitude parachute flare mortars, 1 Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross with Palm. 17th April 1943: USCGC Spencer’s mid Atlantic attack on U-175. I wonder when the captions were written: they mostly speak of Nazis instead of German seaman. On 11 April 1943, Spencer departed St. John’s in company with Task Unit 24.1.3 consisting, in addition, of Duane, two British and two Canadian escorts, and rendezvoused with the 56-ship east-bound convoy HX-233, relieving the local escort on the 12th. Pearl Harbor D-Day Vietnam Photos Oral Histories & Memoirs Browse by Topic. All. This month marks the 70th anniversary of a decisive victory for the predecessor of Coast Guard Cutter Spencer. At 1220 the sub began sinking and sank stern first at 1227. I also served briefly in the Half Moon, having been loaned to her TDY for her Gitmo trip in January 1966 because she was very short of officers after some transfers and an illness and an accident. I still have great memories of good times in the Spencer. The Coast Guard During World War II. Dieter is shown in the picture above as the man still in the water grabbing the cargo net. The submarine was sunk off south-west of Ireland by USCGC Spencer (WPG-36) on April 17, 1943. . Her last voyage was from New York City to the United States Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay on 15 January 1974. 31 talking about this. At 1050 she had a sound contact and dropped 11 charges and on reestablishing it dropped 11 more. Posted June 28, 2013. He would tell us about how Canadian lobstermen would deliberately leave port with only enough fuel for half way on their trip, and would then radio the Coast Guard to have the Spencer tow them back to port to save on fuel expenses. My uncle had shown me many years ago the same photo in an old family photo album with an arrow pointing him out. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We also spent July 4th weekend in 1966 escorting the tugs towing the SS Alva Cape out past the 1000 fathom curve off New Jersey and sinking her with gunfire. All. The book gives a comprehensive listing of all the craft used by the Coast Guard and transfered to the Navy. Caption: Sinking of German submarine U-175, April 1943. The Life magazine article was in the June 7, 1943 issue. She served as an engineering training ship with students using her steam propulsion plant until 15 December 1980. From the United States Coast Guard – History of the Cutter USCGC Spencer. Her last voyage was from New York City to the United States Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay on 15 January 1974. A World War II-era ship docked in Baltimore is about to get a new name.Living Classrooms Foundation and Historic Ships of Baltimore will rename the cutter Roger B. Taney. My father served on Duane and is pictured helping U-175 survivor Dieter Wolf across the deck in one photo not shown in this link. He was a quartermaster. I believe I have the actual list “original” of the 22 Germans placed on the Duane. My older brother Herbert Adler served on the Spencer from about 1951 to 1954 in the engine room. 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The Tourmaline almost collided in heavy seas during one convoy mission on April 17, 1943. steam!
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