USCGC Hornbeam

USCGC Hornbeam underway.
History
United States
Name	USCGC Hornbeam (WLB-394)
Builder	Marine and Iron Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down	19 June 1943
Launched	14 August 1943
Commissioned	14 April 1944
Decommissioned	30 September 1999
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Template:Sclass-
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	1 × 3 inch gun 2 × 20mm/80 2 × depth charge tracks 2 × Mousetraps 4 × Y-guns

The USCGC Hornbeam (WLB-394) was a Template:Sclass- belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 14 August 1943 and commissioned on 14 April 1944.

Design

The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Hornbeam cost $864,296 to construct and had an overall length of 180 feet (55 m). It 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. It 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. It had a single screw.

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, it 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 ship 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. It was fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE-3A sonar system in 1945. Its armament consisted of one 3″/50 caliber gun, two 20mm/80 guns, two Mousetraps, two depth charge tracks, and four Y-guns in 1945; these were removed in 1966.

Career

International radio call sign of USCGC Hornbeam (WLB-394)
November	Oscar	Delta	Mike

During World War II the Hornbeam initially served on the Great Lakes where she was used for ATON and ice-breaking. From August 1944 until the war's end in 1945 the cutter was assigned to the First Coast Guard District and stationed at Woods Hole. In January 1945 she assisted USCGC Nemesis (WPC-111) following the Nemesis' collision with SS Felipe de Neve.

After the war, the Hornbeam stayed in Woods Hole until July 1976. During early 1965 the she escorted the USS Atka (AGB-3), which was taking on water near New Bedford.

From July 1976 through 29 April 1977 the ship underwent an overhaul at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, MD. From 29 April 1977 Hornbeam was stationed at Cape May, NJ and used for ATON. In January and February 1994 Hornbeam, during a record cold spell, spent seven weeks breaking ice and installing ice buoys in the Delaware Bay and Delaware River. She was decommissioned on 30 September 1999 and put up for sale.

M/V Rum Cay Grace

In January, 2009, the Hornbeam was purchased by Integrated Technologies & Systems, Ltd and rechristened the M/V Rum Cay Grace, getting underway in February for Rum Cay, The Bahamas. Along the way, the crew spotted and salvaged a US Navy Northrop BQM-74 Chukar target drone. The Rum Cay Grace transported emergency relief supplies from Miami, Florida following the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Following it's relief efforts, while anchored in Port-au-Prince, the Rum Cay Grace was stolen by smugglers and abandoned near the Panama Canal. She and six other ships broke loose from their moorings and were driven onto the rocks in 2013.

See also

• List of United States Coast Guard cutters