USCGC McLane (WSC-146)

Alert-class were designed for trailing the "mother ships" along the outer line of patrol during Prohibition. They were constructed at a cost of $63,173 each. They gained a reputation for durability that was only enhanced by their re-engining in the late 1930s; their original 6-cylinder diesels were replaced by significantly more powerful 8-cylinder units that used the original engine beds and gave the vessels an additional 3 knots. All served in World War II, but two, the Jackson and Bedloe, were lost in a storm in 1944. Ten were refitted as buoy tenders during the war and reverted to patrol work afterward.

Originally designated WPC, for patrol craft, they were re-designated WSC, for sub chaser, in February 1942, during World War II. The "W" appended to the SC (Sub Chaser) designation identified vessels as belonging to the U.S. Coast Guard. Those remaining in service in May 1966 were re-designated as medium endurance cutters, WMEC.[3]

McLane was laid down and launched by American Brown Boveri Electric Corporation, Camden on 22 March 1927. She was commissioned on 6 April 1927.[4]

Her command was transferred to the US Navy in 1941 until 1946.

Throughout World War 2, she patrolled the Bering Strait, and in July 1942 she and multiple other ships participated in the sinking of Japanese submarine Ro-32. Notably, she too rescued a crew of a downed Lockheed Electra in February 1943.[5]

In May 1966, she was redesignated as WMEC-146 and was decommissioned on 31 December 1968. She then became a training ship for the Sea Scouts.

USCGC McLane was preserved and donated to the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum in Muskegon, Michigan, since 1993.[6] She is currently berthed behind USS Silversides (SS-236).

• American Defense Service Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with battle star
• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal with star

Rum Patrol

• Canney, Donald L. (1995). U.S. Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters, 1790–1935. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. ISBN 978-1-55750-101-1.
• Flynn, Jim; Lortz, Ed; Lukas, Holger (March 2018). "Answer 39/48". Warship International. LV (January 2018): 23–25. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Johnson, Robert Irwin (1987). Guardians of the Sea, History of the United States Coast Guard, 1915 to the Present. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. ISBN 978-0-87021-720-3.
• Scheina, Robert L. (1982). U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. ISBN 978-0-87021-717-3.
• Scheina, Robert L. (1990). U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946–1990. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. ISBN 978-0-87021-719-7.