USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722)

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USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722)

USCGC Morgenthau in New York Harbor
Career (United States)
Name: USCGC Morgenthau
Namesake: Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
Builder: Avondale Shipyards
Commissioned: 10 March 1969
Homeport: Alameda, California
Motto: Decus Pacifici
Pride of the Pacific
Status: Active
Badge:

USCGC Morgenthau crest.jpg

Crest of the USCGC Morgenthau
General characteristics
Displacement: 3,250 tons
Length: 378 ft (115 m)
Beam: 43 ft (13 m)
Draught: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion: Two Diesel engines and
Two Gas turbine engines
Speed: 29 knots (53.7 km/h)
Range: 14,000 mi (22,531 km)
Endurance: 45 days
Complement: 167 personnel
Sensors and
processing systems:
AN/SPS-40 air-search radar
Armament: Otobreda 76 mm, Phalanx CIWS, two 20mm cannons, two .50 cal machine guns

USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722), commissioned on March 10, 1969, was the eighth of twelve 378-foot Hamilton-class high endurance cutters (WHECs) built by Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana. First homeported at Governors Island, New York, Morgenthau was active in the Vietnam War, conducting underway replenishment, naval gunfire support, and patrol duties off the coast of Vietnam until relieved by a 311' cutter in 1971. Her current motto, translated from latin, is "Pride of the Pacific."[citation needed] Morgenthau is currently homeported at Integrated Support Command Alameda, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California.

In 1977, Morgenthau became the first cutter to have women permanently assigned, followed shortly thereafter by USCGC Gallatin (WHEC-721).[citation needed] Her Pacific coast activities have included drug interdiction and seizures, foreign and domestic fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, and alien migrant interdiction.

In 1989, Morgenthau was decommissioned to undergo a major mid-life renovation, the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization(FRAM) to upgrade berthing and living spaces, rejuvenate engineering systems, and modernize her major weapons and sensors. Upon recommissioning in 1991, Morgenthau resumed her missions in the Pacific Ocean.

[edit] Operational activities

In the fall of 1996, Morgenthau was the first U.S. Coast Guard Cutter to deploy to the Persian Gulf. Participating in Operation Vigilant Sentinel, Morgenthau enforced Iraq’s compliance with United Nations sanctions. After returning from the Persian Gulf, Morgenthau continued her Pacific duties, often deploying to the Maritime Boundary Line in the Bering Straits to monitor Alaska’s valuable fisheries and environmental resources, as well as continued alien migrant and drug interdiction efforts off the coasts of Guam and Central and South America.

During a drug interdiction patrol off the coast of Mexico in early 2001, Morgenthau seized $32 million worth of cocaine. Also in 2001, during a fisheries patrol, Morgenthau discovered a Russian vessel fishing in U.S. waters. When the vessel refused to heave to and allow a Coast Guard law enforcement team aboard, Morgenthau pursued the vessel across the Bering Sea and up to Russian territorial seas. This resulted in a joint US-Russian law enforcement action, which further cemented cooperative law enforcement actions between the two nations.

The Morgenthau in the Golden Gate

Later in 2001, during an extensive dry-dock period, Morgenthau was the first 378-foot cutter to install a stern flap, improving her fuel efficiency and ride quality. Because of the increased fuel efficiency, Morgenthau has never since been able to complete full power trials on turbines, as she reaches her maximum speed at a shaft horse power significantly lower than other ships in her class.

After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, Morgenthau participated in Operation Noble Eagle to safeguard America’s prominent port cities through closer scrutiny of maritime traffic.

In 2002, Morgenthau traveled to Southeast Asia to assist, train, and teach law enforcement techniques to naval forces of several nations in the East Asian littoral.

In November 2010, Morgenthau provided an emergency escort along with medical and security assistance to passengers stranded aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor, which was rendered inoperable in the Pacific Ocean by an engine fire.[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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