The Point-class cutter was a class of 82-foot patrol vessels designed to replace the United States Coast Guard's aging 83-foot wooden hull patrol boat being used at the time. The design utilized a mild steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. The Coast Guard Yard discontinued building the 95-foot to have the capacity to produce the 82-foot Point-class patrol boat in 1960.[1] They served as patrol vessels used in law enforcement and search and rescue along the coasts of the United States and the Caribbean. They also served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. They were replaced by the 87-foot s beginning in the late 1990s.
Following the Coast Guard custom in place in 1960 of not naming vessels under 100 feet in length, the first 44 Point-class patrol boats were only identified by their hull number using the scheme of WPB-823xx, where 82 was the design length of the hull. Beginning in January 1964, the Coast Guard started naming all vessels 65 feet in length and over. The 82-foot patrol boats were all given geographical "Point" names.[2]
The design of the 82-foot patrol boat actually began in the early 1950s with the introduction of the 95-foot patrol boat, which was introduced to replace the aging wooden gasoline-powered 83-foot patrol boats produced during World War II. The 95-foot patrol boat was originally developed as a search and rescue boat to replace the less capable 83-foot boat. With the outbreak of the Korean War and the requirement by the Coast Guard to secure port facilities in the United States under the Moss-Magnuson Act, the complete replacement of the 83-foot boat was deferred and the 95-foot boat was used for harbor patrols.[3]
With the goal of reducing manning requirements, the Point-class patrol boat was designed to accommodate an eight-man crew, a reduction from the 15-man crews of the Cape-class cutter.[4] [5] Production started in early 1960 at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland and continued through late December 1963, producing 44 boats. The first 30 boats were powered by two 600hp Cummins diesel engines, except for 82314 (later Point Thatcher), which was powered by two gas turbine engines with controllable pitch propellers[4] and 82318 (later Point Herron) which had two Cummins diesels installed. Beginning in March 1962 with 82331 (later Point Marone), all boats were equipped with two 800-horsepower Cummins diesel engines. All were equipped with twin propellers. Eventually all boats were upgraded to the same 800-horsepower main engines used in the later production.[2]
In 1966 a contract for the production of 25 additional boats was awarded to J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. of Tacoma, Washington. All 25 were equipped with the twin 800-horsepower engines of the 1962 and later Yard production. In 1970, the last nine boats of the class were produced at the Yard utilizing the 800-horsepower design of the remainder of the class. Those boats in service in 1990 were refit with Caterpillar diesel main drive engines. Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack permitting a 360-degree view from the bridge, a useful feature in search and rescue work.[6]
The design specifications for the 82-foot cutter included a steel hull, an aluminum superstructure with a longitudinally framed construction to save weight. Controls were located on the bridge which allowed one-man operation and eliminated an engineer watch in the engine room.[7] For short periods, a crew of four men could operate the cutter, however, the need for rest brought the practical crew to eight for normal service.[8] Berthing spaces were provided for 13 so that requirements were met for passengers and extra wartime manning needs.[9]
The screws were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water. A clutch-in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and she had an eighteen knot maximum speed.[10] Already part of the design, crews stationed in Vietnam found the air-conditioned interior especially helpful. Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the starboard side aft of the deckhouse. The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer-in-charge and the executive petty officer but for Vietnam service the spaces quartered the commanding officer, the executive officer and chief boatswain's mate as well as the chief engineman.[9] The deckhouse also included a small arms locker, scuttlebutt, desk and head. Access to the lower deck and engine room was via a ladder, at the bottom of which was the galley, mess and recreation deck. A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the crew quarters which was ten feet long with six stowable bunks, three on each side. Forward of the bunks was the crew's head with sink, shower and commode, interior spaces were air-conditioned.[11] Accommodation for a 13-man crew were installed for Vietnam War service.[12] [13] [14]
A total of 79 Point-class cutters were used for law enforcement and search-and-rescue patrol boats beginning in 1960. The cutters were mostly co-located with Coast Guard stations along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts. Point-class cutters were phased out in the late 1990s by the introduction of the Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat with the last Point-class cutter being decommissioned in 2003.[15] [16]
At the request of the U.S. Navy, 26 of the Point-class cutters were transported to Vietnam to serve with Coast Guard crews under U.S. Navy control during Operation Market Time. Coast Guard Squadron One was commissioned at Alameda, California on 27 May 1965. Crews immediately began training and preparation for overseas deployment. All USCG Point-class cutters in Vietnam were later turned over to the South Vietnamese Navy as part of the Vietnamization of the war effort.[17]
When North Vietnam overtook the South the then-South Vietnamese Navy cutters had varied fates. Some were captured and incorporated into the Vietnam People's Navy. A few South Vietnamese boats were scuttled, and some by fleeing South Vietnamese military and civilians to successfully escape to the Philippines. The boats that sailed to the Philippines were pressed into service by the Philippine Navy, boats decommissioned in the 1980s, at which time the boats sold for scrap or to the private market.
When planning the replacement for the Point-class cutter, designers took into consideration the need for different berthing arrangements that would accommodate a mixed-gender crew. Another important feature lacking on the Point-class cutter that was desired on a replacement was a stern launch ramp for the rapid deployment of the cutter's small boat for use in search-and-rescue missions and in law-enforcement work. Both of these requirements were designed into the Marine Protector-class that began replacing the Point-class cutters during the late 1990s.[15] The last Point-class cutter was replaced in 2003.[16]
Legend:
| Name | Hull number | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Homeport[18] | Disposition[19] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Caution | WPB-82301 | 5 October 1960 | 29 April 1970 | Galveston, Texas 61-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Nguyễn An (HQ-716) 29 April 1970 |
| Point Hope | WPB-82302 | 5 October 1960 | 3 May 1991 | Sabine Pass, Texas 61-91 | Transfer to Costa Rica 3 May 1991 |
| Point Young | WPB-82303 | 26 October 1960 | 16 March 1970 | Grand Isle, Louisiana 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Trần Lo (HQ-714) 16 March 1970 |
| Point League | WPB-82304 | 9 November 1960 | 16 May 1969 | Morgan City, Louisiana 61-65; Division 13, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Lê Phước Đức (HQ-700) 16 May 1969[20] |
| Point Partridge | WPB-82305 | 23 November 1960 | 27 May 1970 | Beals and West Jonesport, Maine 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Bùi Viết Thành (HQ-715) 27 May 1970 |
| Point Jefferson | WPB-82306 | 7 December 1960 | 21 February 1970 | Nantucket, Massachusetts 61-65; Division 13, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Lê Ngọc Ẩn (HQ-712) 21 February 1970 |
| Point Glover | WPB-82307 | 7 December 1960 | 14 February 1970 | Fort Hancock, New Jersey 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Đào Văn Đặng (HQ-711) 14 February 1970 |
| Point White | WPB-82308 | 18 February 1961 | 12 January 1970 | New London, Connecticut 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Lê Đình Hùng (HQ-708) 12 January 1970 |
| Point Arden | WPB-82309 | 1 February 1961 | 14 February 1970 | Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey 61-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Phạm Ngọc Châu (HQ-710) 14 February 1970 |
| Point Garnet | WPB-82310 | 15 March 1961 | 16 May 1969 | Norfolk, Virginia 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Lê Văn Ngà (HQ-701) 16 May 1969 |
| Point Verde | WPB-82311 | 15 March 1961 | 12 May 1991 | Venice, Louisiana 61-68; Dauphin Island, Louisiana 69-79; Pensacola, Florida 80-91 | Transfer to Mexico 12 June 1991 |
| Point Swift | WPB-82312 | 22 March 1961 | 30 March 1995 | St. Petersburg, Florida 61-68; Clearwater Beach, Florida 69-91 | Stored at CG Yard at least through Jun 1997. Sunk as an artificial reef near Cape May, New Jersey, 30 March 2000[21] |
| Point Slocum | WPB-82313 | 12 April 1961 | 11 December 1969 | St. Thomas, VI 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Nguyễn Ngọc Thạch (HQ-706) 11 December 1969 |
| Point Thatcher | WPB-82314 | 13 September 1961 | 13 May 1992 | Miami Beach, Florida 61-63, 66-71; Norfolk, Virginia 64-65; Sarasota, Florida 71-84; Nokomis, Florida 85-92 | Sunk as artificial reef |
| Point Clear | WPB-82315 | 26 April 1961 | 15 September 1969 | San Pedro, California 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Huỳnh Văn Đức (HQ-702) 15 September 1969 |
| Point Mast | WPB-82316 | 10 May 1961 | 15 June 1970 | Long Beach, California 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as Ho Dang La 15 June 1970 |
| Point Comfort | WPB-82317 | 24 May 1961 | 17 November 1969 | Benicia, California 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Đào Thức (HQ-704) 17 November 1969 |
| Point Herron | WPB-82318 | 14 June 1961 | 27 July 1991 | Lewes, Delaware 61-64; Cape May, New Jersey 65; Bay Shore, New Jersey 66-81; Babylon, New York 82-91 | Transfer to Mexico 27 July 1991 |
| Point Orient | WPB-82319 | 28 June 1961 | 14 July 1970 | Ft. Pierce, Florida 61-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Nguyễn Kim Hưng (HQ-722) 14 July 1970 |
| Point Kennedy | WPB-82320 | 19 July 1961 | 16 March 1970 | San Juan, PR 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Huỳnh Văn Ngan (HQ-713) 16 March 1970 |
| Point Lomas | WPB-82321 | 9 August 1961 | 23 May 1970 | Port Aransas, Texas 61-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as HQ-718 23 May 1970 |
| Point Hudson | WPB-82322 | 30 August 1961 | 11 December 1969 | Panama City, Florida 61-65; Division 13, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Đặng Văn Hoành (HQ-707) 11 December 1969 |
| Point Grace | WPB-82323 | 27 September 1961 | 15 June 1970 | Crisfield, Maryland 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as Dam Thoai 15 June 1970 |
| Point Grey | WPB-82324 | 11 October 1961 | 14 July 1970 | Norfolk, Virginia 61-65; Division 11, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Huỳnh Bộ (HQ-723) 14 July 1970 |
| Point Dume | WPB-82325 | 1 November 1961 | 14 February 1970 | Fire Island, New York 61-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Trường Tiền (HQ-709) 14 February 1970 |
| Point Cypress | WPB-82326 | 22 November 1961 | 15 August 1970[22] | Boston, Massachusetts 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Hồ Duy (HQ-724) 15 August 1970 |
| Point Banks | WPB-82327 | 13 December 1961 | 26 March 1970 | Woods Hole, Massachusetts 61-65; Division 13, RVN 66-70 | Transfer to RVN as HQ-719 26 March 1970 |
| Point Gammon | WPB-82328 | 31 January 1962 | 11 November 1969 | Ft. Bragg, California 62-65; Division 12, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Nguyễn Đao (HQ-703) 11 November 1969 |
| Point Welcome | WPB-82329 | 14 February 1962 | 29 April 1970 | Everett, Washington 62-65; Division 12, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Nguyễn Hấn (HQ-717) 29 April 1970 |
| Point Ellis | WPB-82330 | 28 February 1962 | 9 December 1969 | Port Townsend, Washington 62-65; Division 12, RVN 65-69 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Lê Ngọc Thanh (HQ-705) 9 December 1969 |
| Point Marone | WPB-82331 | 14 March 1962 | 15 August 1970 | San Pedro, California 62-65; Division 11, RVN 65-70 | Transfer to RVN as RVNS Trương Ba (HQ-725) 15 August 1970 |
| Point Roberts | WPB-82332 | 6 June 1962 | 1 February 1992 | Mayport, Florida 62-92 | Transfer to EPA as Lake Explorer Duluth, Minnesota |
| Point Highland | WPB-82333 | 27 June 1962 | 24 February 2001 | Little Creek, Virginia 62-65; Crisfield, Maryland 65-81; Chincoteague, Maryland 81-97; Cape May, New Jersey 97-01 | Transfer to Trinidad & Tobago as Bacolet Point 30 September 1 |
| Point Ledge | WPB-82334 | 18 July 1962 | 3 August 1998 | Ft. Bragg, California 62-94; St. Thomas, VI 94-96; Mobile, Alabama 96-98 | Transfer to Venezuela 30 August 1998 |
| Point Countess | WPB-82335 | 8 August 1962 | 25 May 2000 | Bellingham, Washington 62-65; Everett, Washington 66-67; Port Angeles, Washington 68-88; Nokomis Beach, Florida 88-00 | Transfer to Republic of Georgia 29 June 2000 |
| Point Glass | WPB-82336 | 29 August 1962 | 3 April 2000 | Tacoma, Washington 62-70; Gig Harbor, Washington 71-89; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 90-00 | Transfer to NOAA 3 April 2000 |
| Point Divide | WPB-82337 | 19 September 1962 | 31 March 1995 | Newport Beach, California 62-65; Corona del Mar, California 66-95 | Donated to Seattle Maritime Academy[23] renamed Maritime Instructor. |
| Point Bridge | WPB-82338 | 10 October 1962 | 19 September 2001 | San Pedro, California 62-64; Venice, California 65-78; Marina del Rey, California 79-01 | Transfer to Costa Rica |
| Point Chico | WPB-82339 | 29 October 1962 | 24 June 2001 | Sausalito, California 63-65; Benicia, California 66-74; Yerba Buena Island, California 74-80; Bodega Bay, California 80-01 | Transfer to Costa Rica |
| Point Batan | WPB-82340 | 22 November 1962 | 22 September 1999 | Fort Hancock, New Jersey 62-65; Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey 66-84; Cape May, New Jersey 85-99 | Transfer to Dominican Republic 22 September 1999 |
| Point Lookout | WPB-82341 | 12 December 1962 | 24 March 1994 | Pascagoula, Mississippi 62-64; Morgan City, Louisiana 65-94 | Sunk as artificial reef at Ocean City, Maryland 4 April 1997 |
| Point Baker | WPB-82342 | 30 October 1963 | 6 February 2002 | Port Isabel, Texas 63-65; Port Aransas, Texas 66-91, Sabine Pass, Texas 92-02 | Transfer to Republic of Georgia |
| Point Wells | WPB-82343 | 20 November 1963 | 13 October 2000 | Montauk, New York 64-00 | Transfer to Colombia |
| Point Estero | WPB-82344 | 11 December 1963 | 6 February 2001 | Gulfport, Mississippi 63-01 | Transfer to Colombia |
| Point Judith | WPB-82345 | 26 July 1966 | 15 January 1992 | San Pedro, California 66-72; Santa Barbara, California 73-92 | Transfer to Venezuela as Alcatraz (PG-32) 15 January 1992 |
| Point Arena | WPB-82346 | 26 August 1966 | 30 March 1995 | Little Creek, Virginia 66-95 | Stored at CG Yard at least through Jun 1997 |
| Point Bonita | WPB-82347 | 12 September 1966 | 14 November 2000 | Nantucket, Massachusetts 66-71; Woods Hole, Massachusetts 72-88; South Portland, Maine 88-00 | Transfer to Trinidad & Tobago 14 November 2000 |
| Point Barrow | WPB-82348 | 4 October 1966 | 7 June 1991 | San Francisco, California 66-80; Monterey, California 81-91 | Transfer to Panama as Tres de Noviembre (P-204) 7 June 1991. In 2004 the name was changed to "TF CARLOS JACOME" in honor of Lieutenant Carlos Jacome Rodriguez, who suffered a fatal car accident five years after his graduation from the Venezuela Naval Academy. |
| Point Spencer | WPB-82349 | 20 October 1966 | 12 December 2000 | New Orleans, Louisiana 67-85; Galveston. TX 85-00 | Transfer to Dominican Republic 12 December 2000 |
| Point Franklin | WPB-82350 | 14 November 1966 | 23 June 1998 | Cape May, New Jersey 66-98 | Transfer to Venezuela as Pelicano (PG-34) 3 August 1998 |
| Point Bennett | WPB-82351 | 19 December 1966 | 12 February 1999 | Port Townsend, Washington 67-99 | Transfer to Trinidad and Tobago 12 February 1999 |
| Point Sal | WPB-82352 | 5 December 1966 | 29 May 2001 | Grand Isle, Louisiana 67-01 | Transfer to Colombia 29 May 2001 |
| Point Monroe | WPB-82353 | 27 December 1966 | 21 August 2001 | Galveston, Texas 67-68; Freeport, Texas 69-01 | Transfer to NOAA |
| Point Evans | WPB-82354 | 10 January 1967 | 1 December 1999 | Long Beach, California 67-92; Kauai, HI 92-99 | Transfer to Philippines |
| Point Hannon | WPB-82355 | 23 January 1967 | 11 January 2001 | West Jonesport, Maine 67-01 | Transfer to Panama |
| Point Francis | WPB-82356 | 2 February 1967 | 5 March 1999 | Fort Hancock, New Jersey 67-76; Highlands, New Jersey 76-99 | Transfer to Panama as 10 de Noviembre (P-207) 21 April 1999 |
| Point Huron | WPB-82357 | 17 February 1967 | 12 April 1999 | Norfolk, Virginia 67-99 | Transfer to Panama as 28 de Noviembre (P-206) |
| Point Stuart | WPB-82358 | 17 March 1967 | 27 April 2001 | Long Beach, California 67-95; Newport Beach, California 95-01 | Transfer to El Salvador |
| Point Steele ex-Point Buchon | WPB-82359 | 26 April 1967 | 9 July 1998 | Rockaway, New York 67-70, Oswego, New York 70-80; Key West, Florida 80; Fort Myers Beach, Florida 82-98 | Transfer to Antigua-Barbuda as Hermitage (P-03) 17 July 1998 |
| Point Winslow | WPB-82360 | 3 March 1967 | 22 September 2000 | San Francisco, California 67-80; Eureka, California 81-86; Morro Bay, California 87-94, Morgan City, Louisiana 94-00 | Transfer to Panama 22 September 2000 |
| Point Charles | WPB-82361 | 5 May 1967 | 13 December 1991 | Cape Canaveral, Florida; 67-88; West Palm Beach, Florida 88-91 | Transfer to Texas A&M University |
| Point Brown | WPB-82362 | 30 March 1967 | 27 September 1991 | Little Creek, Virginia 67-81; Oregon Inlet, North Carolina 81-88; Atlantic Beach, North Carolina 88-91 | Donated to Coast Guard Auxiliary as Lady B, New York 30 September 1991 |
| Point Nowell | WPB-82363 | 13 June 1967 | 15 October 1999 | Port Isabel, Texas 67-99 | Transfer to Jamaica as Savanna Point 15 October 1999 |
| Point Whitehorn | WPB-82364 | 13 July 1967 | 30 March 1995 | St. Thomas, VI 67-95 | Scuttled Mar 1997 |
| Point Turner ex-Point Houghton | WPB-82365 | 14 April 1967 | 3 April 1998 | Newport, Rhode Island 67-98 | Transfer to St. Lucia as Alphonse Reynolds (P-05) 15 April 1998 |
| Point Lobos | WPB-82366 | 29 May 1967 | ? | Panama City, Florida 67-? | Transfer to NOAA, 2001 |
| Point Knoll | WPB-82367 | 27 June 1967 | 11 September 1991 | New London, Connecticut 67-91 | Transfer to Venezuela as Petrel (PG-31) 20 December 1991 |
| Point Warde | WPB-82368 | 14 August 1967 | 29 June 2000 | San Juan, PR 67-87; Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 87-00 | Transfer to Colombia 29 June 2000 |
| Point Heyer | WPB-82369 | 3 August 1967 | 17 December 1998 | San Francisco, California 67-86; Morro Bay, California 87-98 | Transfer to Trinidad and Tobago 12 February 1999 |
| Point Richmond | WPB-82370 | 25 August 1967 | 30 September 1997 | Anacortes, Washington 67-87 | Transfer to Ecuador as 23 de Mayo 1997 |
| Point Barnes | WPB-82371 | 21 April 1970 | 12 January 2000 | Miami Beach, Florida 70-75; Fort Pierce, Florida 75-00 | Transfer to Jamaica |
| Point Brower | WPB-82372 | 21 April 1970 | 28 March 2003 | San Diego, California 70-89; San Francisco, California 89- | Transfer to Azerbaijan as Marine Brigade Ship S-201 |
| Point Camden | WPB-82373 | 4 May 1970 | 15 December 1999 | San Pedro, California 70-92; Santa Barbara, California 92-99 | Transfer to Costa Rica |
| Point Carrew | WPB-82374 | 18 May 1970 | 22 August 2000 | San Pedro, California 70-84; Oxnard, California 85-00 | Transfer to Argentina as ARA Río Santiago (P-66) |
| Point Doran | WPB-82375 | 1 June 1970 | 22 March 2000 | Everett, Washington 70-00 | Transfer to Philippines |
| Point Harris | WPB-82376 | 22 June 1970 | 12 April 1992 | Bodega Bay, California 70-77; Guam 78-80; Honolulu, HI 80-90; Nawiliwili, HI 90-92 | Sold to private owner |
| Point Hobart | WPB-82377 | 13 July 1970 | 8 July 1999 | Oceanside, California 70-99 | Transfer to Argentina as ARA Punta Mogotes (P-65) |
| Point Jackson | WPB-82378 | 3 August 1970 | 30 May 2000 | Woods Hole, Massachusetts 70-00 | Transfer to Turkmenistan as Merjin 30 May 2000 |
| Point Martin | WPB-82379 | 20 August 1970 | 6 August 1999 | Norfolk, Virginia 70-73; Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 74-83; Atlantic Beach, North Carolina 83-99 | Transfer to Dominican Republic 1 October 1999 |