wind_class_icebreakers

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Seven "WIND" class 269 foot icebreakers were built between 1942 and 1946. All at Western Pipe & Steel in San Pedro, CA. the only U.S. shipyard at the time capable of rolling two inch hull plating.

The history, names, numbers, etc of all but two of these ships is a bit confusing because of their lend-lease transfer to USSR, periods of U.S. Navy service and the resultant changes that took place in names and numbers. Only two (EASTWIND and NORTHWIND II) served entirely under original name/number.

The following seven "Wind" class icebreakers are listed here in the ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE BUILT;

1. NORTHWIND (WAGB-278) – Builder #96 - Launched 30 December 1942

The first "Wind" class icebreaker and the FIRST of that name. Went direct to Russia and renamed SEVERNI VETTER (NORTHWIND) and later changed to ADMIRAL MAKAROV. Ret. to U.S. NAVY in 1951. To avoid confusion with the Coastie's NORTHWIND the Navy changed the name to STATEN ISLAND (AGB-5) TRF to USCG in 1966, kept the name STATEN ISLAND and resumed the original CG hull number,(WAGB-278)).

Decommissioned 1974 Stricken 1976

2. EASTWIND (WAGB-279) – Builder #97 - Launched 6 February 1943

Coast Guard all the way. Commissioned 3 June 1944 - Decommissioned 13 December 1968 Stricken 1972 Sold

3. SOUTHWIND (WAGB-280) – Builder #98 - Launched 7 March 1943

Commissioned 15 July 1944. Assigned to CINCLANT, stationed at Boston, MA and operated in Greenland waters. 23 March 1945 loaned to USSR and renamed KAPITAN BELUSOV. RET to U.S. Navy 13 April 1950, renamed ATKA (AGB-3). Transferred to USCG 20 October 1965. Name changed back to SOUTHWIND (WAGB-280) 15 January 1967

Decommissioned 31 May 1974. Stricken, sold 1974

4. WESTWIND (WAGB-281) – Builder #99 - Launched 31 March 1943

Commissioned 18 September 1944. Brief Coast Guard service on Pacific coast. TRF to USSR 21 February 1945. Russian name SEVERNI POLUS. RET to U.S. Navy December 1951 and issued hull number AGB-6 but it was never used as the ship went directly to the Coast Guard whereupon she took back her previous CG name and number.

Decommissioned 29 February 1988 Stricken..... Sold. Reported taken under tow for the Orient to be scrapped.

5. NORTHWIND (WAGB-282)- Builder #184 - Launched 25 February 1945

Commissioned 28 July 1945 The SECOND CG icebreaker of that name.

Coast Guard all the way.

Decommissioned. . . . . Stricken. . . .

Scrapped by International Shipbreakers, Brownsville, TX

BURTON ISLAND (WAGB-283) ex USS BURTON ISLAND (AG-88) ex

USS BURTON ISLAND (AGB-1)

Built in 1946 for the U.S. Navy. Launched. . . Commissioned 1947 To USCG 1966

Name remained the same but CG hull number WAGB-383 assigned.

Decommissioned 19 May 1978 Stricken, sold 1978

7. EDISTO (WAGB-284) ex USS EDISTO (AG-89) ex AGB-2)