View source for USCGC Cowslip

{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USCGCCowslip.jpg|none|300px|alt=USCGC Cowslip]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United States]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
|Ship name=USCGC ''Cowslip'' (WLB-277)
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation, [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], [[Minnesota]]
|Ship laid down=16 September 1941
|Ship launched=11 April 1942
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=17 October 1942
|Ship decommissioned=1973
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship notes=
|Ship original cost=$918,873
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship country=
|Ship flag=
|Ship launched=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship recommissioned=1981
|Ship decommissioned=2002
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold to [[Nigerian Navy]] and subsequently re-christened ''Ologbo''.<ref>
 {{cite web
 |title=Cowslip, 1942
 |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Cowslip1942.asp
 |work=US Coast Guard Cutter History
 |publisher=[[United States Coast Guard]]
 |access-date=2012-09-01
 }}</ref> 
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=[[Nigeria]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nigeria}}
|Ship name=NNS ''Ologbo'' (A 502)
|Ship commissioned=2003
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship identification=*{{IMO Number|8133243}}
*{{MMSI Number|987654000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: 5NAP
|Ship status=In service
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=''Cactus'' (Class A)
|Ship displacement=1,025 tons
|Ship length={{convert|180|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|37|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship propulsion=2 × [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] [[EMD 645]] [[V8 engine|V8]] [[diesel engine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|13|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship range={{convert|8000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|13|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=48
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*Wartime: [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] guns, a [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}/50]] cannon, and [[depth charge]]s.
*Peacetime: None
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''USCGC ''Cowslip'' (WLB-277)''' is a {{convert|180|ft|m|0|adj=on}} [[USCG seagoing buoy tender|sea going buoy tender]] (WLB). A ''Cactus''-class vessel, she was built by [[Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation]] in [[Duluth, Minnesota]]. ''Cowslip''{{'}}s preliminary design was completed by the [[United States Lighthouse Service]] and the final design was produced by [[Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation]] in Duluth. On 16 September 1941 the keel was laid. She was launched on 11 April 1942 and commissioned on 17 October 1942. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $918,873.

''Cowslip'' is one of 39 original {{convert|180|ft|m|0|adj=on}} seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942–1944. All but one of the original tenders, the {{USCGC|Ironwood|WLB-297}}, were built in Duluth.

After commissioning, ''Cowslip'' was assigned to Boston, Massachusetts, where she served until 1944. From 1944 until 1973, it was assigned to Portland, Maine. ''Cowslip'' was decommissioned in 1973 and later sold to a civilian firm in 1977. After the loss of {{USCGC|Blackthorn|WLB-391}} in 1980, the Coast Guard reacquired ''Cowslip'' and recommissioned her as a replacement.

After recommissioning, ''Cowslip'' was assigned to Governor's Island, New York from 1981–1983. From 1983–1984, she was moved to the Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland to take part in the Coast Guard's Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) that eventually provided major upgrades for 14 of the 39 180-class ships. The work done to ''Cowslip'', which cost $8.9 million, was completed in 1984 and required 16 months. The upgrades included new main engines, a [[Marine Sanitation Device]] system, upgraded electronics and navigation equipment, a propulsion control computer, and a central fluid power system. In addition, the ships's berthing spaces were renovated, the ship's office and radio room were expanded, additional storeroom space was added and the boom control booth was relocated. After renovation, ''Cowslip'' was assigned to Portsmouth, Virginia, where she stayed until 1995. In 1995 ''Cowslip'' moved to the west coast and called Astoria, Oregon home port until her retirement.

One notable incident in ''Cowslip's'' career is a collision with the {{convert|757|ft|m|0|adj=on}} container ship ''Ever Grade'' that occurred in the [[Columbia River]] in 1997. Although sustaining significant damage, ''Cowslip'' was repaired and sent back into service.

''Cowslip'' was decommissioned for a second time in November 2002 and sold to the Nigerian Navy for use as a general purpose vessel.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/History/webcutters/NPS_180_HAER_Report.pdf |title=US Coast Guard 180-Foot Buoy Tenders |work=Historic American Engineering Record |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |year=2003}}
*{{HAER |survey=DC-58 |id=or1000 |title=U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tenders, 180' Cactus Class, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, District of Columbia, DC |data=2}}
*{{HAER |survey=OR-114 |id=or0486 |title=U.S. Coast Guard Cutter COWSLIP, Base Tongue Point, Astoria, Clatsop County, OR |photos=1 |data=4 |cap=1 |link=no}}

{{180-class buoy tender}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowslip (WLB-277)}}
[[Category:Cactus-class seagoing buoy tenders]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Oregon]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Duluth, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Ships of the Nigerian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the Nigerian Navy]]