USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32) in final configuration
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History | |
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United States | |
Name |
|
Namesake | George Washington Campbell |
Builder | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard |
Laid down | 1 May 1935 |
Launched | 3 June 1936 |
Commissioned | 16 June 1936 |
Decommissioned | 1 April 1982 |
Refit | 1941, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1966 |
Identification | WPG-32 |
Nickname(s) | "Queen of the Seas" |
Fate | Sunk as target ship |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Treasury-class cutter |
Displacement | 2,350 tons (original) |
Length | 327 ft (100 m) |
Beam | 41 ft (12 m) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
Range | 8,270 nmi (15,320 km; 9,520 mi) |
Complement | 125 to 225 (depending on time period) |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | originally 1 Grumman JF Duck seaplane (later removed) |
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32) was a 327-foot (100 m) Secretary-class (also known as
Campbell was named for
Launch and early service
George W. Campbell was
In August 1937, her official name was shortened to Campbell and it was also during this time that her mascot Sinbad reported aboard. Sinbad remained aboard Campbell throughout her tour of duty during World War II, caused at least two international incidents in foreign harbors, faithfully manned his battle station during combat, and generally kept the crew amused during her long voyages over eleven years;[1] Sinbad died on 30 December 1951, after many years of service,[2] and was the first and one of the few Coast Guardsmen to have a published biography.[3]
Wartime duties
On 5 September 1939, President
When prepared for convoy escort duty prior to her sailing for
Campbell, along with
-
Campbell in the New York Navy Yard, 1940
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Sinbad and crew, 1943
Convoys escorted; 1941 – early 1943 (later convoys not listed)
Convoy | Escort Group | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
ON 28
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31 Oct-3 Nov 1941[7] | from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war | |
HX 159 | 10-19 Nov 1941[8] | from Newfoundland to Iceland prior to US declaration of war | |
ON 39
|
29 Nov-4 Dec 1941[7] | from Iceland to Newfoundland prior to US declaration of war | |
HX 166 | 25-31 Dec 1941[8] | from Newfoundland to Iceland | |
ON 53
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9-19 Jan 1942[7] | from Iceland to Newfoundland | |
HX 174 | MOEF group A3
|
9-17 Feb 1942[8] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 69
|
MOEF group A3 | 25 Feb-4 March 1942[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
SC 76 | MOEF group A3 | 28 March-11 April 1942[9] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
HX 190 | MOEF group A3 | 20–27 May 1942[8] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 102
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MOEF group A3 | 10–21 June 1942[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
HX 196 | MOEF group A3 | 2–10 July 1942[8] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 114
|
MOEF group A3 | 20–30 July 1942[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
SC 100 | MOEF group A3 | 16-27 Sept 1942[9] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 135
|
MOEF group A3 | 3-14 Oct 1942[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
HX 212 | MOEF group A3 | 23 Oct-1 Nov 1942[8] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 145
|
MOEF group A3 | 10-20 Nov 1942[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland |
ON 156
|
25-30 Dec 1942[9] | Iceland shuttle | |
HX 223 | MOEF group A3 | 19-late Jan 1943[8] | from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland |
ON 166 | MOEF group A3 | 12-22 Feb 1943[7] | from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland; convoy attacked (see below) |
When the British and Canadians assumed full responsibility for convoys in the North Atlantic in mid-1943, the U.S. took control of all mid-Atlantic and
U-boat attack, February 1943
On 21 February 1943, Campbell was escorting the 48-ship convoy ON 166 when the convoy was surrounded by a U-boat "wolf pack". U-92 and U-753 torpedoed and sank whale factory ship N.T. Nielsen Alonso.[10] Dispatched to assist, Campbell rescued fifty survivors and then turned to attack U-753, damaging it so badly that it had to withdraw. Throughout 21 and 22 February, Campbell attacked several U-boats, inflicting damage and driving them off. Later on 22 February, U-606, having sustained heavy damage inflicted by the Polish destroyer ORP Burza, surfaced in the midst of the convoy attempting a surface attack. Campbell struck the U-boat a glancing blow that gashed Campbell's hull in the engine room below the waterline, but continued to attack, dropping two depth charges which exploded and lifted the U-boat out of the water. The crew brought all guns to bear on the U-boat, fighting on until water in the engine room shorted out all electricity. As the ship lost power and the searchlights illuminating the U-boat went out, the U-boat's commander ordered the vessel abandoned. Campbell ceased fire and lowered boats to rescue the U-boat's survivors. Campbell, disabled in the attack, was towed to port nine days later, repaired and returned to escort duty.
Illustrator Anton Otto Fischer, working for Life magazine, was serving as a lieutenant commander aboard Campbell for this voyage. His series of detailed oil paintings depicting the battle and its aftermath appeared in Life's 5 July 1943 edition.[11]
Luftwaffe attack, May 1944
In April 1944, the
Later service
After conversion to an
Vietnam
Campbell was assigned to combat duty in Vietnam from January to July 1968. During Operation Market Time, Campbell destroyed or damaged 105 Viet Cong structures and steamed over 32,000 miles (51,000 km) in the Vietnamese War Zone.
After returning from Vietnam, Campbell was assigned to routine Search-and-Rescue, Maritime Law Enforcement, Military Readiness, and Ocean Station duties.
She was homeported at Governors Island in New York City until 1969 when she moved to Portland, Maine. In 1974 her homeport was again changed, this time to Port Angeles, Washington. There she continued her peacetime duties until decommissioned in 1982. At the time of decommissioning, Campbell was the oldest active continually commissioned vessel in the United States Coast Guard.[14]
Sinking
USCGC Campbell was sunk on 29 November 1984 as a target in the mid-Pacific Ocean by the United States Navy at coordinates 22°48′N 160°06′W / 22.800°N 160.100°W, northwest of Hawaii, and rests at 2,800 fathoms (5,100 m). A final message was transmitted as the ship, which remained largely intact after a Harpoon missile strike, went down. It said:
UNCLAS //N05752//
SUBJ: FINAL FAREWELL
1. I SERVED WITH HONOR FOR ALMOST FORTY-SIX YEARS, IN WAR AND PEACE, IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC. WITH DUTY AS DIVERSE AS SAVING LIVES TO SINKING U-BOATS, OCEAN STATIONS TO FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT, AND FROM TRAINING CADETS TO BEING YOUR FLAGSHIP. I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS READY TO SERVE.
2. TODAY WAS MY FINAL DUTY. I WAS A TARGET FOR A MISSILE TEST. ITS SUCCESS WAS YOUR LOSS AND MY DEMISE. NOW KING NEPTUNE HAS CALLED ME TO MY FINAL REST IN 2,600 FATHOMS AT 22-48N 160-06W.
3. MOURN NOT, ALL WHO HAVE SAILED WITH ME. A NEW CUTTER CAMPBELL BEARING MY NAME, WMEC-909, WILL SOON CONTINUE THE HERITAGE. I BID ADIEU. THE QUEEN IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.[15]
Awards
Source:[1]
- Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
- American Defense Service Medal with "FLEET" clasp and "A" device
- American Campaign Medal with "A" device
- battle stars
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Medalwith "ASIA" clasp
- National Defense Service Medal with one service star
- Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
- Vietnam Gallantry Crosswith palm
- Philippine Liberation Medal with two service stars
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
References
- ^ a b c "Campbell". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2017-04-30. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ "Sinbad, USCG (Ret.) K9C". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ^ Foley, Chief Specialist George F. Jr. (1945). Sinbad of the Coast Guard. New York City: Dodd, Mead & Co.
- ^ "U.S. Coast Guard Combat Cutters of World War II, A Historic Image Gallery: The "Secretary Class" 327-foot Cutters". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ISBN 978-0-33362-748-8.
- ISBN 1-55750-935-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g "HX convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ a b c "SC convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ^ Lawson, Siri Holm (April 7, 2012). "N. T. Nielsen Alonso". Warsailors.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07.
- ^ "The Cruise of the 'Campbell' - She Fights in the Atlantic". Life. 5 July 1943. p. 57.
- ^ "Missing Flying-Boat". The Times. No. 51143. London. 6 August 1948. p. 4.
- TIME. 9 February 1959. Archived from the originalon 26 January 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "CGC Campbell (WMEC 909): History". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "Campbell Historic Photo Gallery". U.S. Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
External links
- USCGC Campbell Association
- USCGC Campbell at history.uscg.mil