USCGC Mallow (WLB-396)

The USCGC Mallow (WLB-396) was a Iris-class buoy tender belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 9 December 1943 and commissioned on 6 June 1944.[1]

USCGC Mallow underway in Honolulu Harbor
History
United States
Name: Mallow
Namesake: Mallow plant
Builder: Zenith Dredge Corporation
Laid down: 10 October 1943
Launched: 9 December 1943
Commissioned: 6 June 1944
Decommissioned: 15 May 1997
Fate: Sold for scrap
General characteristics
Class and type: Iris-class buoy tender
Displacement: 935 long tons (950 t)
Length: 180 ft (55 m)
Beam: 47 ft 1 in (14.35 m)
Draft: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion: 1 × electric motor connected to 2 Westinghouse generators driven by 2 Cooper Bessemer-type GND-8, 4-cycle diesels; single screw
Speed:
  • 8.3 kn (15.4 km/h; 9.6 mph) cruising
  • 13 kn (24 km/h; 15 mph) maximum
Complement:
  • 6 officers
  • 74 enlisted
Armament:

Design

The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Mallow cost $926,926 to construct and had an overall length of 180 feet (55 m). She had a beam of 37 feet (11 m) and a draft of up to 12 feet (3.7 m) at the time of construction, although this was increased to 14 feet 7 inches (4.45 m) in 1966. She initially had a displacement of 935 long tons (950 t; 1,047 short tons); this was increased to 1,026 long tons (1,042 t; 1,149 short tons) in 1966. It was powered by one electric motor. This was connected up to two Westinghouse generators which were driven by two CooperBessemer GND-8 four-cycle diesel engines. She had a single screw.[2]

The Iris-class buoy tenders had maximum sustained speeds of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), although this diminished to around 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) in 1966. For economic and effective operation, they had to initially operate at 8.3 knots (15.4 km/h; 9.6 mph), although this increased to 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) in 1966. The ships had a complement of six officers and seventy-four crew members in 1945; this decreased to two warrants, four officers, and forty-seven men in 1966. They were fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE-3A sonar system in 1945. Their armament consisted of one 3"/50 caliber gun, two 20 mm/80 guns, two Mousetraps, two depth charge tracks, and four Y-guns in 1945; these were removed in 1966.[2]

Career
International radio call sign of
USCGC Mallow (WLB-396)[1]
November Oscar Delta Oscar

Upon being commissioned in June 1944, Mallow was assigned to the 12th Coast Guard District and homeported in San Francisco where she was used for ATON in the Pacific until the end of World War II.[1] After the war, starting in September 1946, she was stationed in Astoria, Oregon. In February 1958, Mallow assisted Yuma with towing Tinian 6 miles south of Swiftsure Bank. In February 1989, she assisted with recovering debris from the United Airlines Flight 811 crash off Hawaii.[1]

See also

References
  1. "USCG Mallow". USCG. US Coast Guard. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. "Mallow". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
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