USCGC Smilax (WLIC-315)

USCGC Smilax (WAGL/WLIC-315) is a 100-foot (30 m) United States Coast Guard Cosmos-class inland construction tender, commissioned in 1944. Smilax is the "Queen of the Fleet", as the oldest commissioned U.S. Coast Guard cutter.[1]

USCGC Smilax (WLIC-315)
USCGC Smilax (WLIC-315) underway
History
United States
Name: Smilax
Operator: United States Coast Guard
Builder: Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works[1]
Cost: $194,238
Laid down: 26 November 1943
Launched: 18 August 1944
Commissioned: 1 November 1944
Reclassified:
  • WLI (1966)
  • WLIC (1979)
Homeport:
Identification:
Motto:
  • Natu Maximus Mandatum Traba
  • (Oldest Commissioned Ship)
Nickname(s): Queen of the Fleet
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Cosmos-class inland construction tender
Displacement: 175 long tons (178 t)
Length: 100 ft (30 m)
Beam: 24.6 ft (7.5 m)
Draft: 5.3 ft (1.6 m)
Installed power: 2 × Waukesha diesel engines 600 bhp (450 kW)
Speed: 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph)

History

Smilax was built by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works in Dubuque, Iowa. Her keel was laid on 26 November 1943, she was launched on 18 August 1944, and commissioned 1 November 1944. Built as a 100-foot bay and sound tender at a cost of $194,238, she required a year to build at a time when most ships were built in 40 days, making her the most expensive ship of her class.[1][2]

After commissioning, Smilax was assigned to the Seventh District and was stationed at Fort Pierce, Florida where she engaged in the aids to navigation mission. From 1 June 1954 to 9 November 1965, she was homeported out of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. While stationed in Florida she assisted on several search and rescue cases.[1]

After twenty years of service, Smilax was refitted with new engines, and given a 70-foot (21 m) barge. On 9 November 1965, she moved to Brunswick, Georgia as her new homeport, carrying out the aids to navigation mission for that area.[1] She was redesignated WLI-315 in 1966,[3] and WLIC-315 on 1 October 1979.[4]

In July 1999, Smilax moved to her current homeport of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, relieving her sister ship USCGC Primrose (WLIC-316) of her aids to navigation duties.[4]

Mission

Smilax's mission, since her commissioning, has been to service aids to navigation, ensuring the safe navigation of mariners. From her current homeport she is responsible for maintaining 1,226 fixed aids to navigation such as lights and range markers. She is also responsible for 26 buoys throughout the Outer Banks of North Carolina.[5]

Queen of the Fleet

On 11 March 2011, upon the decommissioning of USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167), Smilax became Queen of the Fleet. Queen of the Fleet is the oldest commissioned cutter in Coast Guard service. This distinction is denoted by gold hull numbers on the bow of the ship.[6]

Awards

References
  1. "USCGC Smilax – A History". Coast Guard Mid Atlantic. United States Coast Guard. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  2. Street, Lindsay (15 April 2011). "Smilax receives crown as fleet's oldest cutter". Carteret County News-Times. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. The Engineer's Digest. United States Coast Guard. 1966. p. 28.
  4. Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 994. ISBN 9781591149552.
  5. Papp, Robert J., ADM (14 April 2011). "Smilax becomes Queen of the Fleet". Coast Guard Compass. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  6. Braesch, Connie, LT (12 March 2011). ""Queen of the Fleet" decommissions". Coast Guard Compass. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
Preceded by
USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167)		 United States Coast Guard
Queen of the Fleet
2011-present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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