View source for USCGC Staten Island

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:Statenisland colorinice 1.jpg|300px|USCG Staten Island]]
|Ship caption=USCGC ''Staten Island''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United States]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
|Ship name=USCGC ''Staten Island'' WAG/WAGB-278.
|Ship registry=
|Ship operator=[[United States Coast Guard]].
|Ship builder=[[Western Pipe and Steel Company]].
|Ship laid down=9 June 1942.
|Ship launched=28 December 1942.
|Ship commissioned=26 February 1944.
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship fate=Loaned to the Soviet Union
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=[[Soviet Union]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Soviet Union|naval}}
|Ship name=''Severny Veter''
|Ship operator=Soviet Navy.
|Ship acquired=February 1944 under [[Lend-Lease]].
|Ship fate=Returned to the United States
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1966}}
|Ship name=USS ''Northwind'' AGB-5.
|Ship registry=
|Ship operator=[[United States Navy]].
|Ship owner=
|Ship acquired=19 December 1951.
|Ship commissioned=26&ndash;31 January 1952.
|Ship decommissioned=1 February 1966.
|Ship motto=''If It Can Be Done We Can Do It''
|Ship nickname=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=1 March 1966.
|Ship fate=Transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard
|Ship renamed=USS ''Staten Island'' AGB-5, on 15 April 1952.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
|Ship name=USCGC ''Staten Island'' WAGB-278.
|Ship registry=
|Ship Operator=United States Coast Guard.
|Ship acquired=1965.
|Ship commissioned=1 February 1965.
|Ship decommissioned=15 November 1974.
|Ship nickname=''White Arctic Garbage Barge''.
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Scrapped
|Ship notes=Ships callsign ''NSXN''
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= {{sclass2|Wind|icebreaker}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|6515|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|269|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|63|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft= {{convert|25|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship power=*[[Diesel-electric]]:
*6 × [[Fairbanks-Morse]] model 8-1/8OP, 10-cylinder [[opposed piston engine]]s at {{convert|2000|shp|abbr=on|lk=in}}, each driving a [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]] [[Direct current|DC]] electric generator. (1944)
|Ship propulsion=2 × Westinghouse Electric DC electric motors driving the 2 aft propellers, 1 × {{convert|3000|shp|abbr=on}} Westinghouse DC electric motor driving the detachable and seldom used bow propeller.
|Ship speed= {{convert|16.8|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= {{convert|32485|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=*21 officers, 295 enlisted (1942)
*12 officers, 2 warrants, 205 men (1967)
|Ship armament=*As built for USSR service:
*4 × 1 [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}]]/50
*8 × 1 [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm]]/60
*6 × 1 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]]/80
*2 [[depth charge]] tracks.

|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=1 × [[Grumman]] [[J2F Duck]] [[seaplane]]
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''USCGC ''Staten Island'' (WAGB-278)''' was a [[United States Coast Guard]] {{sclass2|Wind|icebreaker}}. Laid down on 9 June 1942 and launched on 28 December 1942, the ship was commissioned on 26 February 1944, and almost immediately afterward transferred to the [[Soviet Union]], under the [[Lend Lease]] program, under the name ''Severny Veter'', which loosely translates as ''Northwind'', until 19 December 1951. When returned to the United States Navy, she was designated USS ''Northwind'' until 15 April 1952, when she was renamed USS ''Staten Island'' to distinguish her from her successor {{USCGC|Northwind|WAGB-282}} which had been laid down shortly after she was lent to the Soviet Union. The ship was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard as USCGC ''Staten Island'' in February 1965, and served until November 1974, before being scrapped.

==Construction==
{{main|Wind class icebreaker}}
''Staten Island'' was one of the icebreakers designed by [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant commander]] [[Edward Thiele]] and Gibbs & Cox of New York, who modeled them after plans for European icebreakers he obtained before the start of [[World War II|World&nbsp;War&nbsp;II]].<ref name="USCG Icebreakers">{{cite web|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Icebreakers.asp|title=USCG Icebreakers|work=U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History|publisher=United States Coast Guard|access-date=2012-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701150642/http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Icebreakers.asp|archive-date=1 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
She was the first of seven completed ships of the [[Wind class icebreaker|''Wind''-class]] of [[icebreaker]]s operated by the [[United States Coast Guard]]. She was laid down on 9 June 1942 at [[Western Pipe and Steel Company]] shipyards in [[San Pedro, Los Angeles, California|San Pedro]], [[California]], launched on 28 December 1942 and commissioned on 26 February 1944. Once commissioned, she was almost immediately transferred to the [[Soviet Union]] under the [[Lend-Lease]] program.1944.<ref name="Jane's(98)">{{cite book |year=1998 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II |publisher=Crescent Books (Random House) |page=[https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/308 308] |isbn=0517-67963-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/308 }}</ref><ref name="Silverstone">{{cite book |last=Silverstone |first=Paul H |year=1966 |title=U.S. Warships of World War II |publisher=Doubleday and Company |page=378 }}</ref><ref name="USCGC Staten Island">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2099969/staten-island-1965-wagb-278-ex-northwind-severny-venter/|title=Staten Island, 1965 (WAGB 278)|work=U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History|publisher=United States Coast Guard Historian's Office|access-date=2023-11-24}}</ref><ref name="USN Staten Island">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/staten_island.htm|title=USN Staten Island|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|publisher=United States Navy|access-date=2012-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019040949/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/staten_island.htm|archive-date=19 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="NavSource Staten Island">{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/08/0805.htm|title=USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278) |website=NavSource |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref>

Her hull was of unprecedented strength and structural integrity, with a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, a cut away forefoot, rounded bottom, and fore, aft and side heeling tanks. Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controllability and resistance to damage.<ref name="USCG Icebreakers"/>

''Staten Island'' had her designed heavy armament reduced to four single 3"50cal.,<ref name="Jane's(98)" /> eight single 40mm., and two depth charge racks for Soviet service. After her return she received a single 5"38 cal. mount forward and a helicopter deck aft. In USCG service she had the forward mount removed.<ref name="NavSource Staten Island"/>

==Service history==

===Soviet Union (1944–1951)===
''Severny Veter'', ({{langx|ru|Северный Ветер}} or "North Wind"), was transferred to the [[Soviet Navy]] in February 1944 through the [[Lend-Lease]] program, serving in the [[Northern Route Command]]. In 1946 she was renamed ''Kapitan Belousov'' ({{langx|ru|Капитан Белоусов}}) after Soviet icebreaker commander Captain M.P. Belousov. Custody of ''Belousov'' was returned to the United States Navy on 19 December 1951 at [[Bremerhaven]], Germany.

===United States Navy (1951–1966)===
On 19 December 1951 the ship was renamed USS ''Northwind''. On 25 February 1952 the ''Northwind'' arrived at [[Boston Naval Shipyard]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]], for overhaul and fitting out as a unit of the [[United States Atlantic Fleet]].

On 15 April 1952 she was renamed ''Staten Island'' to distinguish her from her successor ship {{USCGC|Northwind|WAGB-282}}, which had been laid down shortly after the ship was sent to the Soviets. ''Staten Island'' was named for the [[New York City]] borough of [[Staten Island]]. Coincidentally, the major [[interstate highway]] that runs through the borough is numbered as [[Interstate 278]].
[[File:USS Staten Island (AGB-5) off the Palmer Peninsula 1963.JPG|thumb|left|USS ''Staten Island'' (AGB-5) off the Palmer Peninsula, April 1963.]]
Overhaul was completed by 30 June 1952, and on 1 July 1952 she sailed from Boston to [[Grenfell Sound]], [[Labrador]], to conduct ice reconnaissance in [[Frobisher Bay]], returning to Boston on 8 September.

''Staten Island'' departed Boston for [[Resolution Island (Nunavut)|Resolution Island]] on 25 April 1953 to relieve {{USS|Edisto|AGB-2|3}}, returning to Boston on 10 June. During August, ''Staten Island'' became the first U.S. Navy ship to cut through the [[Davis Strait]] from Thule to [[Ellesmere Island]].

In the following year, 1954, ''Staten Island'' was involved in three ice breaking operations through 15 December 1954.

In 1955 her home port was changed to [[Seattle, Washington]]. ''Staten Island'' sailed for Seattle on 19 May 1955, and arrived there on 10 June 1955 for duty with [[Service Squadron 1]]. From June through September 1955, she broke ice for ships resupplying the [[Distant Early Warning Line]] radar stations, returning to Seattle on 28 September 1955.

''Staten Island'' departed Seattle on 5 July 1956 to lead another convoy of resupply ships bound for the Distant Early Warning Line through the ice, returning to Seattle on 6 September 1956. She was then assigned to [[Operation Deep Freeze|Operation Deep Freeze II]] and departed Seattle for [[Antarctica]] on 3 November 1956. ''Staten Island'' rendezvoused with cargo ship {{USS|Wyandot|AKA-92|3}} near the [[Panama Canal Zone]] before both continued on for Antarctica, arriving on 15 December 1956 at the [[Weddell Sea]] [[pack ice]], and then breaking through the [[Antarctic Circle]] on 20 December 1956 en route to [[Cape Adams]]. The icebreaker led ''Wyandot'' from Cape Adams to [[Gould Bay]] where [[Ellsworth Station]] was then assembled. She departed Gould Bay on 15 February 1957 to return home to Seattle, arriving there on 5 April 1957.

On 15 October 1963 while on the summer Arctic mission, the captain, [http://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOHN_J._METSCHL,_CDR,_USN Commander John Metschl], and a Navy helicopter pilot were lost at sea doing ice reconnaissance. The only remains found were one of the helicopter's pontoons floating at sea.

On 1 February 1966, ''Staten Island'' was decommissioned by the United States Navy and struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 1 March 1966.

===United States Coast Guard (1966–1974)===
She was then transferred to the [[United States Coast Guard]], where she was redesignated USCGC ''Staten Island'' (WAGB-278), and home-ported at Seattle. During the summer of 1966, the engineering plant was upgraded and modifications were made to the flight deck and hangar to allow operation of a [[Sikorsky S-62|HH-52A Seaguard Helicopter]]. The Coast Guard then deployed her to Antarctica as part of that season's "[[Operation Deep Freeze]]" on 22 September 1966.

''Staten Island'' returned from her Antarctic voyage on 6 April 1967 and was then sent into the [[Arctic Ocean]] above [[Alaska]] for four months during the spring and summer of 1967 during which time she ran aground while traveling west from [[Prudhoe Bay]] and sustained minor damage. ''Staten Island'' then broke ice to assist her sister ship, {{USCGC|Northwind|WAGB-282|3}}, twice during the 1967 fall ice season; in September 1967 ''Northwind'' lost a propeller and became locked in the ice, and she was trapped again in October–November 1967 {{convert|450|nmi|km}} north-northwest of Point Barrow, Alaska.

During July and August 1968 ''Staten Island'' was assigned to conduct an [[Oceanography|oceanographic survey]] of the [[Chukchi Sea]]-[[Bering Strait]] area as part of a cooperative effort between the [[Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit]], the [[University of Alaska]] and the [[University of Washington]].

On 10–11 March 1969, she attempted to assist in the salvage of the fishing vessel ''FV Martindale'' which had run aground off [[Akun Island]]. Disaster struck when her 26-foot self-bailing motor surf boat capsized while attempting to pass a towline from the fishing vessel ''Dauntless'' to ''Martindale'', resulting in the death of her deck division chief, BMC Elias Welch. The surf boat was later salvaged using the cutter's landing craft ([[LCVP (United States)|LCVP]]) and the crew of ''Martindale'' evacuated. 

''Staten Island'' was dispatched to the Arctic Ocean on 7 July 1969 as an oceanographic research platform and escort vessel for supply operations. There she helped {{USCGC|Storis|WMEC-38|3}} reach open water off [[Point Barrow]] on 7 September 1969, relieved ''Northwind'' on 22 September 1969 after that vessel suffered engine trouble, and assisted the Canadian icebreaker {{ship|CCGS|John A. Macdonald}} in escorting the tanker {{SS|Manhattan|1962|6}} eastward through the [[Northwest Passage]]. ''Staten Island'' arrived in New York on 9 November 1969, and departed for Seattle on 9 December 1969 by way of the Panama Canal with stops in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]], and [[Acapulco, Mexico]]. Upon her arrival back in Seattle, ''Staten Island'' became the fourth United States ship to [[circumnavigate]] the [[North America|North American continent]], traveling over {{convert|23000|mi|km}} in the process.

She departed Seattle on 6 July 1970 to conduct scientific tests and evaluation of crude oil spread rate in the Arctic Ocean. Later that summer when a large group of 20 tugboats and 40 barges bound for [[Prudhoe Bay]] with vital supplies became trapped in pack ice, ''Staten Island'' worked around the clock for 3{{frac|1|2}} days to tow and push the barges to open water. She freed the fouled screw of the tugboat ''Active'' {{convert|30|nmi|km}} southwest of [[Point Barrow]] on 14 August 1970, and returned to Seattle on 20 August 1970. ''Staten Island'' departed Seattle once more later in 1970 as part of "[[Operation Deep Freeze|Operation Deep Freeze 1971]]".

On 28 February 1971, while en route to [[Mawson Station]] she struck an uncharted [[pinnacle]] {{convert|14|nmi|km}} north of the station, suffering significant damage, including a punctured hull that flooded four compartments, but no crew injuries. After completing temporary repairs in [[Melbourne, Australia]] and certified seaworthy, {{USCGC|Burton Island|WAGB-283|6}} was ordered to escort ''Staten Island'' home to Seattle.

In mid-March 1972, during "Operation Deep Freeze", while en route from [[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]], to [[Suva]], [[Fiji]], ''Staten Island'' was broadsided by a [[rogue wave]] and came within 2 degrees of capsizing. While ascending the ladder to the bridge to relieve the helmsman, Seaman Cotten hailed the [[Officer of the Day|Officer of the Deck]] moments before an {{convert|80|ft|m|abbr=on}} wall of water struck the port beam. With the bridge doors open the bridge instantly filled with water, as well as the stairwell in which Seaman Cotten was prevented from ascending. The ship listed heavily to starboard, began to shake with one propeller turning in the air, then rolled back to port causing the starboard wing to scoop up seawater, sending everyone splashing toward the overhead (again). Only one man was injured; a fireman climbing up from the engine room who twisted an ankle. In early March 1972 ''Staten Island'' became the first United States government vessel to enter the port in Dunedin.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Later in 1972 the ship departed Seattle for Arctic Summer North carrying scientists from the [[University of Alaska Anchorage|University of Anchorage]], the [[University of Washington]], and the [[Smithsonian Institution]] to make determinations on the effects drilling for oil on the [[Alaska North Slope|north slope of Alaska]] would have on the environment.

During February 1973 ''Staten Island'' participated in the [[Bering Sea Experiment]] as part of her [[Arctic West Winter]] activities, {{convert|475|nmi|km}} north of [[Adak Island]], with the Soviet [[research vessel]] ''Priboy'', and several aircraft. From 7 March through 3 April 1973, she was attached to [[Task Unit]] 57.0 of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]] during [[SUBICEX 1-73]]. Completing her SUBICEX assignments she sailed south and while leaving the frozen sections of the Bering Sea she took heavy swells over her bow including large chunks of ice that damaged her superstructure. On 4 April 1973 her starboard main electric drive motor caught fire. With that motor out of commission her port motor remained in service as she limped into Kodiak, Alaska and finally onto Seattle arriving 12 April 1973.  ''Staten Island'' was drydocked for repairs the remainder of that summer.

''Staten Island'' departed Seattle 31 October 1973 for San Diego where her crew received refresher training between 5 and 16 November 1973, at which time she departed to escort ships in "[[Operation Deep Freeze|Operation Deep Freeze 1974]]". ''Staten Island'' helped rescue USNS '' Maumee'' when her rudder became damaged in the heavy ice at McMurdo.  The ''Staten Island'' crew freed the rudder from its jammed position at 90 degrees and fixed the rudder with a rudimentary manual steering gear allowing ''Maumee'' to make her way to New Zealand for repairs. ''Staten Island'' returned from Antarctica to Seattle via stops in Chile, Peru, and Mexico during April 1974.  In August and September 1974 ''Staten Island'' conducted her final deployment. Her crew completed the Arctic West Summer activities, thereby capping a 30-year ice breaking career in the polar regions of the world.

''Staten Island'' was decommissioned on 15 November 1974,<ref>{{cite news |title= U.S. to Retire Ship Once in Soviet Navy |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=November 12, 1974 |page=I-4}}</ref> and sold for scrap.

==Awards==
''Staten Island'' was awarded the [[Coast Guard Unit Commendation]] with [[Operational Distinguishing Device]] for the periods of 23 September–8 October 1967, 21 September–1 November 1969 and 7 March 1973 – 3 April 1973. From 12 December 1970 through 10 March 1971, ''Staten Island'' participated in Task Force 43, along with {{USCGC|Edisto|WAGB-284|6}}, {{USCGC|Glacier|WAGB-4|6}} and {{USCGC|Westwind|WAGB-281|6}}, for which she was awarded the Navy [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]. She was awarded another Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for her service in Task Force 43 from 5 December 1973 through 22 February 1974.<ref name="USCGCIM1650">{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf |title=Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25D |publisher=U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard |date=2008-05-05 |access-date=2011-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609002545/http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Staten Island also earned two awards of the [[National Defense Service Medal]]
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]]</span> <span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -100px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -37px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award star (gold).png|22px]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Operational Distinguishing Device.png|20px]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg}}
|-
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Antarctica Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" width=400
|-
|[[Coast Guard Unit Commendation]] with [[Operational Distinguishing Device]] and 2 [[award star]]s
|[[Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with [[Operational Distinguishing Device]]
|Navy [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with one star
|-
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] (2nd)
|[[Antarctica Service Medal]]
|}

==References==
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s18/staten_island.htm}}<br/>{{USCG}}
{{reflist}}{{Commons category|USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278)=}}

==External links==
*{{navsource|09/08/0805|Staten Island}}
* United States Coast Guard Historian's Office [https://www.history.uscg.mil/] Accessed 20 December 2021.

{{Wind class icebreaker}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Staten Island}}
[[Category:Wind-class icebreakers]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the United States Coast Guard]]
[[Category:Ships built in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Staten Island]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Soviet Navy]]