Heather, 1947 (WLB-331)

Jan. 26, 2021
PRINT | E-MAIL

Heather, 1947

ACM-7; WABL / WLB-331
ex-Obstructor; ex-First Lieutenant William G. Sylvester


A low-growing Eurasian shrub, Calluna vulgaris, growing in dense masses and bearing small evergreen leaves and pinkish-purple flower clusters.


Builder:  Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia

Length: 188' 8"

Beam:  37'

Draft: 12' 10"

Displacement: 1,323 tons

Cost: N/A

Commissioned: 1942 (US Army); 1 April 1945 (USN); 1 February 1947 (USCG)

Decommissioned: 15 December 1967

Disposition: Transferred to Seattle, 12 April 1968

Machinery: Skinner Engine Company reciprocating steam engine; 2 Combustion Engineering boilers; twin propellers; 1,200 SHP.

Performance & Endurance:

        Max: 11.5 knots
       Cruising: 8.5 knots; 3,000 mile range

Deck Gear: 

Complement: 52

Armament: None

Electronics: ?


Tender History:

The second tender named Heather, one of five Chimo-Class Army minelayers acquired by the Coast Guard, entered service with the Coast Guard in 1947.  She was stationed at Mobile, Alabama and was assigned to tend aids to navigation and conduct SAR operations as needed.  She served out of Mobile until 5 December 1949.  On 23 July 1949 she assisted a sinking barge off Isle aux Herbes.

On 6 December 1949 she began operations out of San Pedro, California.  In addition to tending aids to navigation, she again participated in a number of SAR operations as well as other duties.  On 9 February 1953 she escorted the M/V Greece Victory into San Francisco.  On 23 April 1956 she escorted the P/C Avalon to San Pedro.  From May to June 1957 she patrolled outboard races in Los Angeles harbor.  On 19 July 1960 she assisted following a collision between the USS Ammen (DD-527) and USS Collette (DD-730) near Newport Beach.  From 15 to 16 March 1961 she assisted the Greek M/V Dominator off Palos Verdes Point and transported survivors to San Pedro.  On 19 May 1961 she assisted in raising the sunken CG-40453.  On 22 May 1966 she salvaged a Coast Guard helicopter that had crashed 96 miles off San Diego.

She was decommissioned on 15 December 1967 and was transferred to Seattle, Washington on 12 April 1968.


Sources:

Cutter History File.  USCG Historian's Office, USCG HQ, Washington, D.C.

Robert Scheina.  U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990.  Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1990.