USCGC ''Point Franklin'' (WPB-82350) was an Point class cutter constructed at the

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. The J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation was founded in 1924 by Joseph M. Martinac on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Washington. It specialized in the construction of tugs, trawlers, purse seiners, ferries, naval patrol craft and power yach ...

yards at Tacoma, Washington in 1966 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat.Scheina, p 74

Construction and design details

''Point Franklin'' was built to accommodate an 8-man crew.Scheina, p 71 She was powered by two VT800 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five-bladed propellers. Water tank capacity was and fuel tank capacity was at 95% full.Scheina, p 71 After 1990 she was refit with

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diesel main drive engines. Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.Scotti, p 165 The design specifications for ''Point Franklin'' included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight. Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non-manned main drive engine spaces. Controls and alarms located on the bridge allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer watch in the engine room.Scotti, p 165 Because of design, four men could operate the cutter; however, the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service.Scotti, p 165 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 an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly.Scotti, p 166 Air-conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter. Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the

starboard side Port and starboard are nautical terms for watercraft and aircraft, referring respectively to the left and right sides of the vessel, when aboard and facing the bow (front). Vessels with bilateral symmetry have left and right halves which are ...

aft of the deckhouse. The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer-in-charge and the executive petty officer.Scotti, p 166 The deckhouse also included a small arms locker,

scuttlebutt Scuttlebutt in slang usage means rumor or gossip, deriving from the nautical term for the cask used to serve water (or, later, a water fountain).head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals may ...

. Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder. At the bottom of the ladder was the

galley A galley is a type of ship that is propelled mainly by oars. The galley is characterized by its long, slender hull, shallow draft, and low freeboard (clearance between sea and gunwale). Virtually all types of galleys had sails that could be used ...

mess The mess (also called a mess deck aboard ships) is a designated area where military personnel socialize, eat and (in some cases) live. The term is also used to indicate the groups of military personnel who belong to separate messes, such as the o ...

and recreation deck. A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed, three bunks on each side. Forward of the bunks was the crew's head complete with a compact sink, shower and commode.Scotti, p 166

History

After commissioning, ''Point Franklin'' was stationed at Cape May, New Jersey, where she was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations. On 26 November 1967, she took a wounded crewman to the hospital from MV ''Timaru Star'' 45 miles south southwest of Delaware Light Station.Scheina, p 74 On 1 March 1968, the distressed FV ''Bright Star'' was escorted 25 miles south east of Cape May to safe waters by ''Point Franklin''. On 17 August, she assisted the distressed MV ''Green Lake'' 25 miles South east of Ocean City, Maryland. ''Point Franklin'' came to the aid of a 19-foot pleasure craft on 25 August 1969 near Ocean City. On 12 December she towed the disabled sailboat ''Dora'' to Ocean City.Scheina, p 74 After a collision off Cape May with the MV ''Concordia Sun'', the disabled FV ''Sharron Ann'' was towed by ''Point Franklin'' to safety on 26 November 1970. She seized the tug ''Capstan'' 240 miles east of Cape Charles carrying 30 tons of

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in December 1985. On 15 December 1986, she fought a fire on the tug ''Kathryne McAllister'' 5 miles east of

Avalon, New Jersey Avalon is a borough in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on Seven Mile Island. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the full-time borough population was 1,243, a decline of 91 from the 2010 census enumeration of 1,334,

.Scheina, p 74 From commissioning to 1978, ''Point Franklin'' was commanded by enlisted chief petty officers, which are termed officers-in-charge since they do not hold a commission. In 1978, junior officers with the rank of lieutenant, junior grade were made commanding officers. From 1992 to decommissioning the responsibility of command reverted to officers-in-charge with the rank of

master chief petty officer U.S. Coast Guardmaster chief petty officercollar device U.S. Coast Guardmaster chief petty officersleeve rating insignia United States Navymaster chief petty officer collar insignia United States Navymaster chief petty officershoulderb ...

. ''Point Franklin'' was decommissioned 23 June 1998 and transferred to Venezuela on 3 August 1998

References

;Bibliography * * *

External links

"Point" Class 82-foot WPBs
Coast Guard Historian's website {{DEFAULTSORT:Point Franklin

Franklin Franklin may refer to: People * Franklin (given name) * Franklin (surname) * Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Australia * Franklin, Tasmania, a township * Division of Franklin, federal electoral d ...

1966 ships Point-class cutters of the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela Ships built in Tacoma, Washington