Pinetree Line Miscellaneous

USCGC Westwind (WAGB-281)

WESTWIND was launched 31 March, 1943 at Western Pipe & Steel Shipyard at San Pedro, CA. Yard 6. Sponsored by Mrs. Stanley V Parker (wife of Admiral Parker USCG) Commissioned 18 September, 1944 at 1400 hours. CAPT Stephen P Swicegood USCG commanding. After shakedown and underway training (13 Oct '44 to 3 Nov '44) the ship departed southern California for Seattle, WA. via San Francisco. CDR Edward Theile USCG, Executive Officer, CDR John Oren USCG, Engineering Officer, LT Sherman Frick USCG, Navigator. On the first night at sea the ship encountered a severe gale which by daylight brought mountainous seas and winds to 75 knots. There was damage up forward on deck. The repair party was caught by a huge boarding sea and swept aft against the lifelines, all safe except BROOKS BM3 who went overside and was lost. Search that day was without results and the ship continued to San Francisco, arriving 25 November 1944. On arrival Seattle, fuel, stores were taken and all preparations made for immediate deployment to Alaska. Departure was scheduled for Christmas Day 1944. Within an hour of departure time word was received to proceed to NAVSHIPYD Bremerton where the ship would be turned over to the USSR on the Lend Lease Program. The official ceremony transferring the ship to the USSR took place on 21 February 1945. The Soviets renamed the ship SEVERNI POLIUS.

The Soviets kept WESTWIND until 1951. During this time the ship was almost beaten to pieces because of hard usage, terrible operating conditions and no maintenance. In fact, the only reason the USSR released the ship was because she would not run any more and had become a useless hulk. Anything of any value that could possibly be removed was gone. She was towed to Bremerhavn, Germany and handed back to the USCG on 19 December 1951. WESTWIND required extensive renovation and refitting lasting seven months and at a cost of $1.2 million before becoming serviceable. The ship was recommissioned back into the CG 22 Sept 1952. From 1952 until 1966, WESTWIND was deployed primarily in Arctic waters, escorting Military Sea Transportation Service ships resupplying isolated defense and weather stations.