USCGC Iris
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=USCGC Iris.png |Ship caption=USCGC Iris underway. }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country={{nowrap|United States}} |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}} |Ship name=Iris |Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder= Zenith Dredge Corporation |Ship laid down= 10 December 1943 |Ship launched=18 May 1944 |Ship commissioned= 11 August 1944 |Ship decommissioned=20 June 1995 |Ship fate=Transferred to Maritime Administration 8 August 1997. |Ship badge=175px }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass|Iris|buoy tender}} |Ship displacement={{convert|935|LT|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|180|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|47|ft|1|in|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|12|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=1 × electric motor connected to 2 Westinghouse generators driven by 2 Cooper Bessemer-type GND-8, 4-cycle diesels; single screw |Ship speed=*{{convert|8.3|kn|abbr=on|lk=in}} cruising
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The USCGC Iris (WLB-395) was a {{sclass|Iris|buoy tender}} belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 18 May 1944 and commissioned on 11 August 1944.{{cite web|title=USCG Iris|url=https://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Iris_1944.pdf|website=USCG|publisher=US Coast Guard|access-date=26 July 2015}}
Design
The Iris-class buoy tenders were constructed after the Mesquite-class buoy tenders. Iris cost $926,446 to construct and had an overall length of {{convert|180|ft|m}}. She had a beam of {{convert|37|ft|m}} and a draft of up to {{convert|12|ft|m}} at the time of construction, although this was increased to {{convert|14|ft|7|in|m}} in 1966. She initially had a displacement of {{convert|935|lt|t ST}}; this was increased to {{convert|1026|lt|t ST}} in 1966. She was powered by one electric motor. This was connected up to two Westinghouse generators which were driven by two CooperBessemer GND-8 four-cycle diesel engines. She had a single screw.{{cite web|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Iris_1944.pdf|title=Iris|publisher=United States Coast Guard|access-date=24 August 2015}}
The Iris-class buoy tenders had maximum sustained speeds of {{convert|13|kn|km/h mph}}, although this diminished to around {{convert|11.9|kn|km/h mph}} in 1966. For economic and effective operation, they had to initially operate at {{convert|8.3|kn|km/h mph}}, although this increased to {{convert|8.5|kn|km/h mph}} in 1966. The ships had a complement of six officers and seventy-four crew members in 1945; this decreased to two warrants, four officers, and forty-seven men in 1966. They were fitted with a SL1 radar system and QBE-3A sonar system in 1945. Their armament consisted of one 3"/50 caliber gun, two 20 mm/80 guns, two Mousetraps, two depth charge tracks, and four Y-guns in 1945; these were removed in 1966.
Career
{{Ship call sign|N|O|D|N|ship name = USCGC Iris (WLB-395)|reference=}}
Upon receiving her commission, Iris was assigned to the 8th Coast Guard District and homeported in Galveston, Texas, where she was used for general ATON duties through the end of the war. In April 1947, she assisted with evacuating the injured from the Texas City disaster in which {{SS|Grandcamp}} carrying ammonium nitrate exploded.{{cite web| title=Texas City, Texas Disaster| url=http://www.local1259iaff.org/report.htm| publisher=Fire Prevention and Engineering Bureau of Texas| date=April 29, 1947| access-date=2014-12-29}} After assisting with evacuations, Iris returned to the scene to assist with fighting the numerous fires that had spawned. In April 1989, she responded out to the Exxon Valdez oil spill and assisted with the clean up of Prince William Sound. In 1997, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{HAER |survey=DC-60 |id=or1002 |title=U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tenders, 180' Iris Class, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, District of Columbia, DC |data=3}}
- {{HAER |survey=OR-118 |id=or0490 |title=U.S. Coast Guard Cutter IRIS, Astoria, Clatsop County, OR |data=5 |link=no}}
{{180-class buoy tender}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iris}}
Category:Iris-class seagoing buoy tenders