(Haida, native American tribe inhabiting parts of British Columbia and Alaska)

Type and Characteristics: Turbo-electric cutter, one of four Tampa-class (240-footers), WPG-45, built by Union Construction Company, Oakland, CA at cost of $775,000, laid down 27 September 1920, launched 19 April 1921, commissioned 4 or 26 October 1921, 1,506 tons displacement (1921), 1,955 tons (1945), 240ft long x 39ft beam x 13ft draft, 16kts, armed with 2-5in/2-6pdr/1-1pdr (1921), 2-3in/4-20mm/depth charges/Mousetrap A/S mortar (1943), 96 crew - 14 officers, 2 warrant officers, 80 men (1945).

Log Period and Areas of Service: 1921-47, Bering Sea, Prohibition duties, Alaskan waters escort duty in World War 2.

Summary of Service

4 October 1921 – Commissioned and sailed to the Mare Island Navy Yard to receive her armament; then stationed at Seattle, participating in the annual Bering Sea Patrols for the next 20 years.

1924 - With the cutter Algonquin, sailed in support of the U.S. Army's World Flight, the first attempt to circumnavigate the globe by air.

7 December 1941 - Haida was at the Puget Sound Navy Yard undergoing repairs.

13 January 1942 - She continued in her Coast Guard duties in the Bering Sea, also providing escort duties for convoys and US Army Transport ships.

1 January 1943 - Haida arrived at Seattle for overhaul.

23 February 1943 - On escort duty to and from the Aleutians and on anti-submarine patrol.

27 June 1943 – On weather patrol at station “A” fortnightly through 1944 and 1945, basing on Seattle.

4 April 1946 – Returned to escort duty between Alaskan ports and Continental U. S. ports.

13 February 1947 – Decommissioned; sold in 1948 to the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company.

Fate: Decommissioned 13 February 1947, sold 20 January 1948, scrapped 1951.

Link: USCG Historian's site

Haida 2

Her Warrant Officers on the quarterdeck, photo dated 4 August 1926
(Courtesy Ray Sanford)

Haida 3

The USCGC Haida in the Bering Sea sometime in 1945
Note her wartime appearance and armament

A general note on the sources.