U.S. Revenue Cutter Service Bear
The 198 foot cutter Bear was built in 1874 and served with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service until the U.S.R.C.S. became, what is know today as, the U.S. Coast Guard.
Built of wood and powered by a single steam powered screw, the ship also carried a full set of sails on its mast.
The Bear saw service in the Gulf of Alaska region and was involved early on with fisheries patrols. Despite its age, the Bear underwent a refit and served as a patrol vessel during World War II. It was retired in 1944.
The Bear sank off the coast of Maine in 1963 while under tow.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is a full rigger sailing vessel used for training cadets at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
The Eagle was built in Germany in 1936, and was part of the German Navy during World War II. The ship was taken as part of the settlement following the war.
U.S.S. LST-21
During World War II, many ships that would normally be manned by U.S. Navy crews, were manned instead by U.S. Coast Guard crews. The U.S.S. LST-21 (Landing Ship Tank), also referred to as USCG LST-21, was just one of the 76 so crewed during the war.
Designed much like a large barge, and with a flat bottom and very shallow draft, the 360 foot LST had large bow doors that would open to allow the on and off loading of tanks, trucks and other equipment on a beach. The ship was also equipped with numerous 40mm (pom-pom) gun batteries. It also had a stern anchor to facilitate retracting from the beach.
U.S.C.G.C. Alert (WMEC-630)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert is a 210 foot medium endurance cutter assigned to patrol the Atlantic Ocean. This class of cutter was designed and built in the 1960s. Extensive modernization was done on this class of ship in recent years to enhance its sea keeping abilities. On the aft deck is a HH-52 single engine helo.
USCGC Chokeberry (WLI-65304)
The 65 foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Chokeberry is an island buoy tender that currently operates out of Chrisfield, Maryland. It handles smaller aids-to-navigation in inland areas. The Chokeberry was built in 1946.
The one of the largest ships in the Coast Guard fleet is the 399 foot Polar class ice breaker, represented by the Polar Sea shown here. The ice breakers are painted red to add contrast to the ice and snow found in the polar regions. The Polar Sea was built in 1976. The 420 foot Healy-Class Icebreaker (not shown) has replaced the Polar Class as the largest in the fleet.
Of all the boats in the Coast Guard's fleet, the 41 foot utility boat, "The 41" as it's commonly referred to in the Coast Guard, is the boat that the public sees and interacts with the most. It is at many small Coast Guard stations. The 41 serves a variety of functions, including law enforcement and search and rescue (SAR). This type of vessel entered service in 1973.