USCGC Cape Upright

History
United States
NameUSCGC Cape Upright (WPB-95303)
OwnerUnited States Coast Guard
OperatorUnited States Coast Guard
BuilderCoast Guard Yard
Commissioned2 July 1953[1]
Decommissioned6 January 1989
Homeport
Nickname(s)
  • Cape Up All Night
  • Cape Uptight
  • Cape Downright
FateTransferred to Bahamas, 10 June 1989
The Bahamas
NameHMBS David Tucker (P07)
OwnerRoyal Bahamas Defence Force
OperatorRoyal Bahamas Defence Force
Acquired10 June 1989
Decommissioned1996 [2]
FateSunk in 1997 as an artificial reef
General characteristics
Class and typeCape class
Displacement102 long tons (114 short tons)
Length
  • 90 ft (27 m) waterline
  • 95 ft (29 m) overall
Beam20 ft (6.1 m) max
Draft6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 Cummins VT-600 diesels
  • 2 Detroit 16V149 diesels (renovated)
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h)
  • 24 knots (44 km/h) (renovated)
Range1,418 nautical miles (2,626 km; 1,632 mi)
Complement15
Armament
  • 2 mousetraps
  • 2 depth charge racks
  • 2 20mm (twin)
  • 2 .50-caliber machine guns
  • 2 12.7mm machine guns
  • 2 40mm Mk 64 grenade launchers

USCGC Cape Upright was United States Coast Guard steel-hulled patrol boat of the 95-Foot or Cape class.

Service

  • 1953: From here stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, to 1960 and was used for law enforcement (LE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
  • 1961: From here to 1969, stationed at Southport, North Carolina where she was again used for LE and participated in many SAR operations. Cape Upright participated in the recovery of a U.S. Navy seaman's body whose helicopter crashed off Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower in January 1967. Three crew members were recovered alive and another went down with the helicopter[3]
  • 29 April 1969, medevaced a crewman from F/V Thalia.
  • 28 July 1969: towed the disabled schooner Chauve Souris 19 miles west of Frying Pan Light Tower to Southport, NC.
  • 24 December 1969: towed the disabled F/V Dream One 45 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
  • 1970: From here to 1973, was stationed at Wrightsville Beach, NC, being used again for LE and SAR operations.
  • 31 July 1970, towed the disabled sailboat Pandora 35 miles southeast of Cape Fear to Wrightsville Beach.
  • 1974: From here to 1976, was held for transfer to Lebanon under the Military Assistance Program.
  • 1976-1977: underwent major renovation at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland.
  • 1978 to 1989: was stationed at Savannah, Georgia, and was used for LE and SAR operations.
  • 10 September 1982: helped seize M/V Mont Boron, which was suspected of drug smuggling off Florida.
  • 28 November 1982: seized the Cayman Island vessel Largo Izabel carrying 30 tons of marijuana after stopping her with gunfire.
  • 18 November 1986: seized a speedboat in the Straits of Florida with marijuana on board.
  • 21 November 1986: seized M/V Don Yeyo 120 miles east of Miami, Florida, carrying 12 tons of marijuana.[1]

Transfer

Cape Upright was transferred to The Bahamas 10 June 1989 and renamed David Tucker (P07).

Decommissioning

David Tucker (P07) was decommissioned in 1996 and donated to be sunk as an artificial reef in 1997 as part of Nassau's artificial reef program. A popular dive spot; it is located along an area known as Clifton Wall.

References

  1. ^ a b "CAPE UPRIGHT, 1953". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  2. ^ Barroux, Jean Charles. "Bahamas - Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) - Coast Guard". Latin American Military. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  3. ^ "Sign In - Coast Guard Community".