DATE: March 13, 2003 10:16:14 AM EST
Bramble decommissioning date set
Commanding Officer
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE (WLB-392)
March Eleventh, 2003 - Port Huron, Michigan - It is with mixed
feelings that I announce the decommissioning of the Coast
Guard Cutter BRAMBLE on 22 May 2003. As the final
Commanding Officer, I intend to send this decorated ship
into the history books with much fanfare.
Design and construction for the USCGC BRAMBLE (WLB-392)
occurred at Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in
Duluth, Minnesota. BRAMBLE’s keel was laid on 02
August 1943, she was launched on 23 October 1943 and
was commissioned on 22 April 1944. The original cost for
the hull and machinery was $925,464. BRAMBLE is one
of 39 original 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built between
1942 and 1944. All of the original tenders, except the
IRONWOOD, were built in Duluth.
In 1953, while stationed in Miami, Florida, renewed
interest in the Northwest Passage brought about a
special mission for BRAMBLE. The Coast Guard
cutters BRAMBLE, SPAR and STORIS were selected
to attempt a forced passage along the northern shore
of Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.
BRAMBLE departed for this historic adventure from
Miami on 24 May 1957 en route to Seattle,
Washington via the Panama Canal. On 01 July
1957, the task force departed Seattle, bound for
the North Atlantic via the Bering Straits and the
Arctic Ocean. The ships traveled through 4,500
miles of semi-charted water in 64 days, crossing
the Arctic Circle into the Atlantic. On 02 December
1957, BRAMBLE returned to Miami. The success
of the mission distinguished the three cutters as the
first surface ships to circumnavigate the North
American continent.
In 1962, BRAMBLE was transferred to Detroit,
Michigan to perform the missions of aids to navigation,
search and rescue, icebreaking and law
enforcement throughout the Great Lakes.
BRAMBLE completed a major renovation and
overhaul in 1974, during which her original diesel
engines were removed and rebuilt and her
berthing areas were expanded and modernized.
A new hydraulic boom was also installed. Upon
completion of the major renovation in September
1975, BRAMBLE reported to Port Huron, Michigan,
her present homeport.
BRAMBLE services almost 100 aids to navigation in
Saginaw Bay, lower Lake Huron, the St. Clair River,
eastern Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. This is the most
expansive area of responsibility of the Great Lakes
buoy tenders. In addition to her normal work,
BRAMBLE has frequently served as the Patrol
Commander for the famous Port Huron-to-Mackinac
sailboat race. This race started in 1925 and is one
of the largest freshwater sailboat races in the country,
with an average of 300 boats competing each year.
In the course of BRAMBLE’s service, the cutter has been
awarded many awards and ribbons. She has received
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 OPS Service Ribbon.
With new technology evolving, the door has opened for
the Coast Guard Cutter HOLLYHOCK (WLB-214) to
take over the primary mission of buoy tending that the
180-foot BRAMBLE has held. In addition, the new
225-foot HOLLYHOCK will be able to help with
environmental cleanups, search and rescue, law
enforcement and icebreaking. She is due to be
commissioned and placed into service in Port Huron,
Michigan four months after the departure of her well
traveled and illustrious predecessor.
Anyone with questions or concerns regarding BRAMBLE’s
decommissioning are encouraged to contact Ensign Brian
Jeffery, BRAMBLE’s Public Affairs Officer, at (810) 982-2686.
/s/
G. T. PRESTIDGE
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Coast Guard
Commanding Officer, USCGC BRAMBLE (WLB-392)
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