The USCGC ''Morgenthau'' (WHEC-722), was the eighth of twelve 378-foot dual-powered turbine/diesel high endurance cutters (WHECs) built by

Avondale Shipyards Avondale Shipyard was an independent shipbuilding company, acquired by Litton Industries, in turn acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation. In 2011, along with the former Ingalls Shipbuilding, the yard was part of Huntington Ingalls Industries. It c ...

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

. The Coast Guard commissioned the ''Morgenthau'' on March 10, 1969. After 48 years of continuous service the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the ''Morgenthau'' on April 18, 2017, and the ship was sold to

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

. On 27 May 2017 the

Vietnam Coast Guard Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG, ; formerly Vietnam Marine Police (VMP) prior to October 2013) is the coast guard of Vietnam. Until 2013, it was a branch of Vietnam's military, the Vietnam People's Army, and falls under the management of the Vietname ...

commissioned the former cutter as patrol craft ''CSB-8020''. In the 1960s-1970s the "jet-powered" ''Hamilton''-class cutters were state-of-the-art and technologically innovative. In 2011 the Coast Guard acknowledged its ''Hamilton''-class cutters had far exceeded their planned service life and phased them out over the next ten years, replacing them with National Security Cutters. In the 1960s the most distinctive aspect of these ''Hamilton''-class cutters were the twin

turbine engines A turbine ( or ) (from the Greek , ''tyrbē'', or Latin ''turbo'', meaning vortex) is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work. The work produced by a turbine can be used for generating e ...

capable of propelling the cutter from 0 to 30+ knots in 60 seconds (and with its large variable-pitch propellers, coming to a full stop equally fast). Moreover, due to the Cold War, ''Hamilton''-class cutters were configured for

anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are t ...

(ASW): including the ability to detect, track, and destroy submarines. Each 378' cutter had a helicopter flight deck, and retractable hangar within which to store a helicopter for missions. Other features noteworthy at the time included a variable-pitch propeller and

bow thruster Manoeuvering thruster (bow thruster or stern thruster) is a transversal propulsion device built into, or mounted to, either the bow or stern, of a ship or boat to make it more manoeuvrable. Bow thrusters make docking easier, since they allow th ...

, allowing the ship to berth horizontally to a dock. As modern ships the cutters had comfortable crew and officer quarters, and the capability to stay at sea for 45 days. Over its 48-year career (1969-2017) ''Morgenthau'' received numerous awards, commendations, and unit citations, including a

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC; pronounced ''muck'') is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement or s ...

in 1971 during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

Combat Action Ribbon The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR, ), is a high precedence United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or ...

to the 1971 Captain and crew, and multiple Battle "E" ( Battle Effectiveness Award) for the ship's demonstrated excellence and superior achievement during certification and qualification competitions. The ''Morgenthau'' had two crests and unit motto (commonly referred to as "unit patches"). When commissioned, ''Morgenthau'' had a shield style crest, with the motto "Efficiency and Honor is Our Destiny." When in 1977 ''Morgenthau'' moved to the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...

and homeported in

Alameda An alameda is a Avenue (landscape), street or path lined with trees () and may refer to: Places Canada *Alameda, Saskatchewan, town in Saskatchewan **Grant Devine Dam, formerly ''Alameda Dam'', a dam and reservoir in southern Saskatchewan Chile ...

, the crest changed to a circular style with the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

motto A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...

' (although the Latin word ' can have different meanings, the US Coast Guard translates the motto as "Pride of the Pacific").

Historical Summary

When commissioned in 1969, ''Morgenthau'' homeported at

Governors Island Governors Island is a island in New York Harbor, within the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located approximately south of Manhattan Island, and is separated from Brooklyn to the east by the Buttermilk Channel. The National Park ...

, New York. From 1970 to 1971 the ''Morgenthau'' served in Vietnam, a participant in the U.S. Navy's

Operation Market Time Operation Market Time was the United States Navy, Republic of Vietnam Navy and Royal Australian Navy operation begun in 1965 to stop the flow of troops, war material, and supplies by sea, coast, and rivers, from North Vietnam into parts of Sout ...

. In 1977 ''Morgenthau'' moved to the Pacific side of the United States and homeported at Integrated Support Command Alameda, Coast Guard Island,

Alameda, California Alameda ( ; ; Spanish for " tree-lined path") is a city in Alameda County, California, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is primarily located on Alameda Island, but also spans Bay Farm Island and Coast Guard Island, as we ...

. The cutter homeported in Alameda until December 2012. In January 2013 ''Morgenthau'' sailed to her new homeport in

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

after a December 13, 2012, hull swap with the crew of the USCGC ''Jarvis''. (A "hull swap" is an operation where the entire crew of a ship transfers from one ship to another similar ship.) ''Jarvis'' had been slated for decommissioning and transfer to a foreign navy. In 2016 the U.S. Coast Guard announced that on April 18, 2017, the ''Morgenthau'' would be decommissioned from its home port in Honolulu, Hawaii. On April 18, 2017, USCGC ''Morgenthau'' was decommissioned at the Coast Guard Station, Sand Island, Honolulu, Hawaii. Post decommissioning: After removal of classified equipment and specified weaponry the ''Morgenthau'' was designated for purchase by Vietnam. The United States transferred the Morgenthau to the

on 28 May 2017, pursuant to the Excess Defense Articles program. Vietnam has commissioned the ship as ''CSB 8020''.

Replacement by National Security Cutters; Transfer to Foreign Navies

''Hamilton''-class cutters underwent

Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program of the United States Navy extended the lives of World War II-era destroyers by shifting their mission from a surface attack role to that of a submarine hunter. The FRAM program also covere ...

("FRAM") through the early 1990s. Consistent with long-term planning, the ''Morgenthau'' and her 11 sister ''Hamilton''-class cutters are gradually being replaced by the 418-foot Legend-class

National Security Cutter The Legend-class cutter, also known as the National Security Cutter (NSC) and Maritime Security Cutter, Large, is the largest active patrol cutter class of the United States Coast Guard. Entering into service in 2008, the Legend-class is the la ...

(nine total). The Coast Guard stated the National Security Cutters are better equipped, have a reduced radar signature, and are more durable, safer, and efficient than the 1960s ''Hamilton''-class ships. Compare ''Morgenthau'' with , a National Security Cutter homeported in Alameda, California. At the end of 2016 five National Security Cutters are in active service, and an additional four NSCs are under construction at

Ingalls Shipbuilding Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States, originally established in 1938, and now part of HII. It is a leading producer of ships for the United States Navy, and at 12,500 employees, the second largest ...

(NSCs ''Hamilton'', ''James'', and ''Munro''). In June 2013 the US Coast Guard awarded an option contract to procure materials for construction of the Coast Guard's seventh National Security Cutter, the NSC ''Kimball''. Under the

Foreign Military Sales The United States Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments. The purchaser does not deal directly with the defens ...

Foreign Assistance Act The Foreign Assistance Act (, et seq.) is a United States law governing foreign aid policy. It outlined the political and ideological principles of U.S. foreign aid, significantly overhauled and reorganized the structure U.S. foreign assistance ...

, or other programs, decommissioned ''Hamilton''-class cutters are made available for purchase or transfer to foreign navies. As of February 2017 various cutters have been decommissioned with subsequent transfer to foreign navies: to the

Nigerian Navy The Nigerian Navy (NN) is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is among the largest navies on the African continent, consisting of several thousand personnel, including those of the Coast Guard. History The Nigerian Navy owes its origin t ...

as NNS ''Thunder'' (F90); to the

as NNS ''Okpabana'' (F93); to the Philippine Navy as ; to the Bangladesh Navy as ; to the Philippine Navy as ; to the Philippine Navy as ; to the Bangladesh Navy as BNS ''Somudra Avijan'' (F-29); and the USCGC ''Morgenthau'' (WHEC-722) to the Vietnam Coast Guard as the CSB 8020. Once acquired, some navies have designated the cutter a flagship; some receive significant rearmament, including missiles, radar guided cannons, radar, sonar, and ASW weaponry. For example, see the

list of ships of the Bangladesh Navy The Bangladesh Navy currently operates two submarines, five guided missile frigates, two patrol frigates, six guided missile corvettes, minor surface combatants of various types including offshore patrol vessels, coastal patrol boats, missile b ...

: the BNS Somudra Joy will be armed with modern C-802A anti-ship-missiles, FM-90N SAM, torpedoes, and an

(ASW) helicopter. Also see the discussion regarding the Philippine Navy's ''Hamilton''-class acquisitions, of which the nation in 2017 has three.

Operational Highlights: 1970-71 (Vietnam War)

Soon after its commissioning in 1970 the ''Morgenthau'' sailed to Vietnam for service in the US Navy's

. ''Morgenthau'' was extremely active in the

: the cutter's duties included boarding and inspection of North Vietnamese and

Viet Cong , , war = the Vietnam War , image = FNL Flag.svg , caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green. , active ...

ships and boats suspected of running guns, ammunition and supplies,

naval gunfire support Naval gunfire support (NGFS) (also known as shore bombardment) is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support Fire support is defined by the United States Department of Defense as " Fires that directly support land, maritime, amphibiou ...

missions to the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

and

U.S. Marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

, the cutter's crew providing medical care to Vietnamese villagers (MEDCAPS -

civic action program A civic action program also known as civic action project is a type of operation designed to assist an area by using the capabilities and resources of a military force or civilian organization to conduct long-term programs or short-term projects. ...

), ferrying Navy SEALs on missions, and general 24/7 patrol duties. While powering up to full speed close to shore during an Operation Market Time patrol, the ''Morgenthau'' struck an uncharted pinnacle. The cutter suffered significant damage, mainly to its large-bladed propellers that struck the pinnacle with such force that two several-ton propeller blades ripped off their mounts, flew 30 feet into the air, and then crashed into the water. Thinking they were under attack, Captain Lloyd Logan quickly ordered

general quarters General quarters, battle stations, or action stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the arme ...

sounded. Dead in the water, concerned about ambush, and that his ship was a "sitting duck," Captain Logan had his crew look busy on decks conducting maintenance and operations, to make it appear as if the ship anchored in the water was planned. Captain Logan further ordered the ship's guns manned at all times, and the ship's two heavily armed small boats to be at the ready for launching. The U.S. Navy gunboat USS ''Antelope'' patrolled around the ''Morgenthau'' to provide additional firepower in the event the cutter was ambushed. After a few days a seagoing U.S. Navy tug towed the disabled ''Morgenthau'' to the large U.S. Navy shipyard and base located at

Subic Bay Subic Bay is a bay on the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, about northwest of Manila Bay. An extension of the South China Sea, its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility, U.S. Naval Base Sub ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. The cutter underwent a month in

drydock A dry dock (sometimes drydock or dry-dock) is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform. Dry docks are used for the construction, maintenance, ...

for repairs, after which the ''Morgenthau'' returned to duty in Vietnam. From records compiled by then-Lieutenant Eugene N. Tulich, Commander, US Coast Guard (Ret), ''Morgenthau''s Vietnam numbers included: Miles cruised - ; Percentage time underway - 72.8%; Junks/sampans detected/inspected/boarded - 2383/627/63; Enemy confirmed killed in action (KIA) 14; Structures destroyed/damaged - 32/37; Bunkers destroyed/damaged - 12/3; Waterborne craft destroyed/damaged - 7/3; Naval Gunfire Support Missions (NGFS) - 19; MEDCAPS (Medical Civic Action Program) - 25; Patients treated - 2676. For exceptionally valorous action in combat, ''Morgenthau'' received a number of awards and commendations, including a Navy Unit Commendation when ''Morgenthau'' distinguished itself with outstanding heroism in action against the enemy. ''Morgenthau''s actions included its multi-day stealth tracking of a 160-foot enemy ship that U.S. intelligence services identified as a North Vietnamese SL-8 trawler, disguised as a fishing vessel, attempting to resupply North Vietnamese Army and

soldiers waiting on shore. The tracking culminated in the April 11, 1971 destruction of the enemy ship after a two-hour gun battle with ''Morgenthau'' and U.S. Navy forces. The SL-8 trawler disappeared from ''Morganthau''s radar screens in a massive explosion that killed all enemy combatants. For this and other Vietnam service, the ''Morgenthau'' and its crew were awarded the Navy

; Navy Unit Commendation;

;

Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. Arm ...

; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm device; Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation;

Vietnam Campaign Medal The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal ( vi, Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949, and awarded to French military personnel during the First ...

; and other awards. ''Morgenthau'' served in Vietnam until relieved from Vietnam service in August 1971 by the , a 311-foot .

Operational Highlights: 1972 to 2017

In 1977, ''Morgenthau'' became the first Coast Guard cutter to have women permanently assigned, followed shortly thereafter by . ''Morgenthau''s

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...

coast activities included drug interdiction and seizures, foreign and domestic fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, and alien migrant interdiction. In 1989, ''Morgenthau'' was decommissioned to undergo a major mid-life renovation under the

(FRAM). The cutter's FRAM included updating berthing and living spaces, rejuvenating engineering systems, and updating/modernizing major weapons and sensors. Upon recommissioning in 1991, ''Morgenthau'' resumed missions in the Pacific Ocean. In the fall of 1996, ''Morgenthau'' was the first US Coast Guard Cutter to deploy to the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bod ...

. Participating in Operation Vigilant Sentinel, ''Morgenthau'' enforced

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

's compliance with United Nations sanctions. After returning from the Persian Gulf, ''Morgenthau'' continued her Pacific duties, often deploying to the Maritime Boundary Line in the Bering Straits to monitor

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...

's valuable fisheries and environmental resources, as well as continued alien migrant and drug interdiction efforts off the coasts of

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...

and Central and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

. In early 2001 while on drug interdiction patrol off the coast of

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, ''Morgenthau'' seized $32 million worth of

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...

. Also in 2001, during a fisheries patrol, ''Morgenthau's'' deployed helicopter discovered a

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

n vessel fishing in US waters. When the vessel refused to heave to and allow a Coast Guard law enforcement team aboard, ''Morgenthau'' pursued the vessel across the Bering Sea and up to Russian territorial seas. This resulted in a joint US-Russian law enforcement action, which further cemented cooperative law enforcement actions between the two nations. Later in 2001, during an extensive dry-dock period, ''Morgenthau'' was the first 378-foot cutter to install a stern flap, improving fuel efficiency and ride quality. Because of the increased fuel efficiency, ''Morgenthau'' has never since been able to complete full-power trials on turbines, as she reaches her maximum speed at a shaft horsepower significantly lower than other ships in her class. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, ''Morgenthau'' participated in

Operation Noble Eagle Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks.. ...

to safeguard America's prominent port cities through closer scrutiny of maritime traffic. In 2008, ''Morgenthau'' traveled to

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...

to assist, train, and teach law enforcement techniques to naval forces of several nations in the East Asian littoral. In November 2010, ''Morgenthau'' provided an emergency escort along with medical and security assistance to passengers stranded aboard the cruise ship ''Carnival Splendor'', which was rendered inoperable in the Pacific Ocean by an engine fire. In January 2013 ''Morgenthau'' arrived in its new home port in Honolulu, Hawaii. ''Morgenthau'' replaced her sister ship , the ''Jarvis'' having been decommissioned from the U.S. fleet, and transferred to the Bangladesh Navy under the

program. In February 2015 ''Morgenthau'' entered dry-dock in Alameda, CA at Bay Ship & Yacht Co. for repairs. File:USCG Morgenthau under wraps in dry dock in Oakland, CA.jpg, Under wraps at the dry-dock File:USCG Morgenthau in dry dock in Oakland, CA.jpg, The ship's new paint job revealed On April 18, 2017, the ''Morgenthau'' was decommissioned at its home port in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Coast Guard announced the ''Morgenthau'' would be acquired by Vietnam. The Coast Guard transferred ''Morgenthau'' to the

in a ceremony held in Honolulu on May 25, 2017. Vietnam commissioned the ship as patrol craft CSB 8020.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgenthau Ships of the United States Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutters 1969 ships Hamilton-class cutters of the Vietnam Coast Guard Ships built in Bridge City, Louisiana