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BLACKTHORN
(WLB391) was built by Marine iron and Shipbuilding Corp.,
Duluth, MN. She was 1 of 39 units of the 180 Foot Class, the largest class of
tenders ever constructed by the U.S. Coast Guard. BLACKTHORN was laid down
21 May 1943, launched 20 July 1943, and commissioned 27 March 1944. The prin-
cipal job of a buoy tender is to service aids to navigation. As with ati Coast Guard
craft, buoy tenders are often diverted to other missions — a fact reflected in
BLACKTHORN’s career.
During
the first few months in service, BLACKTHORN was used for ice
breaking on the Great Lakes. In mid 1944 she was reassigned to San Pedro, CA,
transiting via the St. Lawrence River and the Panama Canal.
BLACKTHORN
operated out of San Pedro, servicing aids to navigation until
December 1949. Other duties included salvaging a naval helicopter on 17
November 1948 and assisting distressed craft on 4 Juty 1949 and 19 October
1949.
In
early 1950, BLACKTHORN was reassigned to Mobile, AL, and transited via
the Panama Canal. She serviced aids to navigation there until July 1976. While
assigned to Mobile, BLACKTHORN searched for survivors of ESSO GREENS-
BORO, which had collided with ESSO SUEX on 22 April 1951; assisted distressed
merchantmen OCEAN PRIDE on 27 July 1951, KERRY MAC on 2 October 1951,
MISSION CARMEL on 27 June 1952, BEATRICE on 16 April 1954, MISS CAIN JOY
on 25 July 1959. On 27.28 August 1952 BLACKTHORN assisted in the search for
survivors of a B17 crash and on 18-25 February 1953 she searched for survivors of
National Airlines Flight 470. Between May and July 1953, BLACKTHORN
recovered the wreckage of the National Airlines plane and in April 1954 she
salvaged an Air Force plane. On 8 May 1956 BLACKTHORN searched for two
missing naval F9F aircraft. In October 1957 she assisted sister ship IRIS, which
had beached herself after being holed. BLACKTHORN was reassigned to
Galveston, TX in 1976.
Buoy
tenders have traditionally had long careers, many serving more than 45
years. Aside from routine maintenance, BLACKTHORN had been modernized
throughout her career. In 1968 she received air conditioning, improvements in her
heating and ventilation, and a new 100kw generator. BLACKTHORN received an
Austere Renovation” in 1972. Crews berthing, heads, and dispensary were
renewed plus a new lounge and Poltution Abatement System were added. From
15 October 1979 through late January 1980, BLACKTHORN was overhauged at the
Gulf Tampa Drydock Co.
On January 28th, 1980, the 180-foot CGC BLACKTHORN (WLB-391) collided with the
605-foot oil tanker S.S. Capricorn.
Homeported
in Galveston, Texas, BLACKTHORN had just completed an extensive yard
period in the Tampa area. At about 7:20 p.m. on Jan. 28, 1980, about two miles
south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, St. Petersburg, Florida, BLACKTHORN collided
with Capricorn. At that point, Capricorn's 7-ton anchor then became embedded in
BLACKTHORN, and when the 990-foot anchor chain pulled taut, Capricorn pulled
BLACKTHORN back through the water and caused it to capsized. BLACKTHORN sank
within 10 minutes in 40 feet of water, taking with it 23 of the 50 crew members.
The bodies were recovered and buried in a dozen states.
A
monument commemorating both the sinking and the loss of 23 Coast Guardsman
was dedicated Jan. 28, 1981, and is located at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
north end rest area. The Florida Legislature named the wayside parks at
each end of the bridge "Blackthorn Memorial Park" in June 1980. At Base
Galveston, a permanently lit, buoy displays a commemorative plaque.
IN MEMORIAM
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