USCGC Chautauqua (WHEC-41)

USCG "Chautauqua" (WHEC-41) was an "Owasco" class high endurance cutter which served with the US Coast Guard from 1945 to 1973. Originally intended for World War II service, she was commissioned only days before the end of hostilities and consequently never saw combat.

"Chautauqua" was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Named after Chautauqua Lake, New York she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-41 on 4 August 1945, just days before the end of World War II. In the postwar period, her ID was changed to WHEC-41 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).

Operational service

"Chautauqua" was homeported at San Francisco, California, from 4 August 1945 to October 1948 and used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations in the Pacific.

On 19 May 1947 she searched for a reported mine. From October 1948 to 22 July 1954, she was stationed at Alameda, California. Her duties remained similar to those she had at San Francisco. On 29 and 30 October 1948, she escorted the disabled F/V "Reefer King" to Honolulu, Hawaii. From 11 to 14 November 1949, she towed the disabled M/V "Navigator" until relieved by a commercial tug. From 15 to 21 April 1950, she towed the disabled tug "Omar" to San Francisco. On 15 May 1953, she assisted the disabled F/V "Bering Strait" 20 miles west of Point Reyes, California.

"Chautauqua" was homeported at Honolulu, Hawaii, from 22 July 1954 to February 1972, with duties of law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue. On 21 November 1956, she medevaced a crewman from M/V "Evibelle". On 13 July 1959, she assisted the yacht "Cloud Nine" at 23°20’N, 143°00’W. She patrolled the Trans-Pacific Race from 15 to 17 July 1959. On 6 September 1959, she medevaced a crewman from M/V "Pioneer" at 34°25’N, 162°16’E. While on ocean station in February 1965, the Chautauqua sustained damage and had to depart early for Yokosuka, Japan due to main motor-bearing problems.

On 20 January 1967, "Chautauqua" sustained a fire in the Combat Information Center while undergoing renovation in a San Francisco yard. In late December 1971, "Chautauqua" was on-scene commander following the sinking of the Danish M/V "Heering Kirse" off Midway Island. 31 of 36 victims were rescued. She transferred to Norfolk, Virginia in February 1972.

Decommission

"Chautauqua" was decommissioned on 1 August 1973 and scrapped along with the rest of the "Owasco" class in 1974.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Chautauqua_1945.html "Chautauqua" WHEC-41] , United States' Coast Guard website.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981, pp. 1-3.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 18-26.