USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)
| | Career | |
|---|
| Laid down: | 1 May,1935 |
| Launched: | 3 June, 1936 |
| Commissioned: | 12 September, 1936 |
| Decommissioned: | 27 May 1988 |
| Fate: | Museum ship |
| General Characteristics |
|---|
| Displacement: | 2,700 tons |
| Length: | 327 ft (100 m) |
| Beam: | 41 ft (12.5 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers and 2 Westinghouse double reduction geared steam turbine engines. 6,200 hp (4.6 MW) |
| Speed: | 21 knots (39 km/h) |
| Range: | 8,270 nmi. (15,000 km) |
| Complement: | 120 to 300 men (depending on time period) |
| Armament: | depending on the time period, 1 to 4 x 5 in/38 cal guns (127 mm),
2 x 5 in/51 caliber guns (127 mm),
2 x 6 lb (2.7 kg) saluting guns,
varying numbers of 50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns |
| Aircraft: | originally 1 Grumman Seaplane, later removed |
| Motto: | Semper Paratus (Always Ready) |
USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) , one of only two preserved
Treasury-class cutters, probably the most successful large cutters built by the
United States Coast Guard. Originally
Samuel D. Ingham, she was the fourth cutter to be named for
Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham (
1779–
1860). She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two
Presidential Unit Citations.
Ingham was built at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard The Treasury Department awarded her contract on
30 January 1934. Her keel was laid on
1 May 1935 and she was
launched on
3 June 1936 along with her sisters
William J. Duane and
Roger B. Taney.
Ingham was
christened by Ms. Katherine Ingham Brush on that date and the new cutter was formally
commissioned on
12 September 1936.
Ingham served with distinction during
World War II on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to
Britain,
Ingham battled stormy weather,
German U-Boats, and enemy aircraft. During one crossing
Ingham engaged and sank the enemy submarine
U-626. After
1944,
Ingham served as an amphibious flagship.
Ingham patrolled the waters surrounding
Korea during the
Korean War and earned a
Presidential Unit Citation (US) for her service during the
Vietnam War. After the war the cutter returned to regular Coast Guard duties, serving until
1988, when she was decommissioned.
Acquired by
Patriot's Point in
1989,
Ingham is displayed along with the
aircraft carrier Yorktown, the
destroyer Laffey, and the
submarine Clamagore.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard has declared
Ingham the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Killed in Action In World War II and Vietnam. These 912 casualties are identified on a memorial plaque on Ingham's quarterdeck.
USCGC
Ingham is a
National Historic Landmark.
Information found on this page taken from the
US Coast Guard History Website*
Patriot's Point Maritime Museum*
uscg.mil: USCGC Ingham
