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Difference between revisions of "USS Glacier"
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[[File:Glacier nearing the ice pier.jpg|350px|thumb|The Glacier approaching McMurdo Station, Antarctica]] | [[File:Glacier nearing the ice pier.jpg|350px|thumb|The Glacier approaching McMurdo Station, Antarctica]] | ||
The '''USS ''Glacier''''' (AGB-4) was a [[U.S. Navy]], then U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker which served in the first through fifteenth Operation Deep Freeze expeditions. ''Glacier'' was first icebreaker to make her way through the frozen [[Bellingshausen Sea]], and most of the topography in the area is named for her crewmembers. When built, ''Glacier'' had the largest capacity single armature DC motors ever installed on a ship. ''Glacier'' was capable of breaking ice up to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick, and of continuous breaking of 4-foot (1.2 m) thick ice at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). | The '''USS ''Glacier''''' (AGB-4) was a [[U.S. Navy]], then U.S. Coast Guard [[icebreaker]] which served in the first through fifteenth Operation Deep Freeze expeditions. ''Glacier'' was first icebreaker to make her way through the frozen [[Bellingshausen Sea]], and most of the topography in the area is named for her crewmembers. When built, ''Glacier'' had the largest capacity single armature DC motors ever installed on a ship. ''Glacier'' was capable of breaking ice up to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick, and of continuous breaking of 4-foot (1.2 m) thick ice at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). | ||
Named for Glacier Bay, Alaska, the USS ''Glacier'' was launched on 27 August 1954 at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi, sponsored by Mrs. Roscoe F. Good; and commissioned on 27 May 1955, CDR. E.H. Mayer USN, Commanding. ''Glacier'' is the only icebreaker built in the Glacier class, and was in U.S. Navy service for 11 years, and U.S. Coast Guard service for 21 years. | Named for Glacier Bay, Alaska, the USS ''Glacier'' was launched on 27 August 1954 at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Mississippi, sponsored by Mrs. Roscoe F. Good; and commissioned on 27 May 1955, CDR. E.H. Mayer USN, Commanding. ''Glacier'' is the only icebreaker built in the Glacier class, and was in U.S. Navy service for 11 years, and U.S. Coast Guard service for 21 years. | ||
==Construction== | ==Construction== | ||
The ''Glacier'' was essentially an improved Wind-class icebreaker, larger and more powerful. Like them, her entire hull was designed for great strength. With a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, her bow had the characteristic sloping forefoot that enabled her to ride up on heavy ice and break it with the weight of the vessel. The stern was similarly shaped to facilitate breaking ice while backing down. The sides of the icebreaker were rounded, with marked tumblehome, and she had fore, aft and side heeling tanks that enabled the ship to break free from ice by heeling from side to side and changing trim fore to aft. Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controlability and resistance to damage. | The ''Glacier'' was essentially an improved Wind-class [[icebreaker]], larger and more powerful. Like them, her entire hull was designed for great strength. With a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, her bow had the characteristic sloping forefoot that enabled her to ride up on heavy ice and break it with the weight of the vessel. The stern was similarly shaped to facilitate breaking ice while backing down. The sides of the icebreaker were rounded, with marked tumblehome, and she had fore, aft and side heeling tanks that enabled the ship to break free from ice by heeling from side to side and changing trim fore to aft. Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controlability and resistance to damage. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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===Antarctic operations, 1960–1966=== | ===Antarctic operations, 1960–1966=== | ||
The icebreaker departed Boston Massachusetts on 13 October 1960 on her sixth Antarctic voyage and reached Lyttelton, New Zealand on 21 November 1960 to unload cargo. Most of December 1960 was spent in breaking a 21-nautical-mile (39 km; 24 mi) channel through McMurdo Sound to open the way for supply ships. ''Glacier'' returned to Wellington New Zealand for repairs, and to receive the [[U.S. Navy]] Unit Commendation for her [[Bellingshausen Sea]] expedition success. She then returned to the [[Amundsen Sea|Amundsen]] and Bellingshausen Seas on another expedition. Oceanographic work continued until March 1961 when she sailed for Boston Massachusetts; arriving on 27 April 1961. | The icebreaker departed Boston Massachusetts on 13 October 1960 on her sixth [[Antarctic]] voyage and reached Lyttelton, New Zealand on 21 November 1960 to unload cargo. Most of December 1960 was spent in breaking a 21-nautical-mile (39 km; 24 mi) channel through McMurdo Sound to open the way for supply ships. ''Glacier'' returned to Wellington New Zealand for repairs, and to receive the [[U.S. Navy]] Unit Commendation for her [[Bellingshausen Sea]] expedition success. She then returned to the [[Amundsen Sea|Amundsen]] and Bellingshausen Seas on another expedition. Oceanographic work continued until March 1961 when she sailed for Boston Massachusetts; arriving on 27 April 1961. | ||
Underway again on 8 October 1961 for "Deep Freeze 62", she loaded cargo at Lyttelton, New Zealand, in early November 1961 and entered the Ross Sea ice pack on 13 November 1961, reaching McMurdo Sound by the end of the month. After repairs at Wellington, New Zealand, ''Glacier'' returned to McMurdo Station and to the site of Little America V for cartographic studies. She returned to New Zealand on 6 March 1962 and then put in at Boston, Massachusetts, on 5 May 1962 after steaming 36,000 nautical miles (67,000 km; 41,000 mi). | Underway again on 8 October 1961 for "Deep Freeze 62", she loaded cargo at Lyttelton, New Zealand, in early November 1961 and entered the Ross Sea ice pack on 13 November 1961, reaching McMurdo Sound by the end of the month. After repairs at Wellington, New Zealand, ''Glacier'' returned to McMurdo Station and to the site of Little America V for cartographic studies. She returned to New Zealand on 6 March 1962 and then put in at Boston, Massachusetts, on 5 May 1962 after steaming 36,000 nautical miles (67,000 km; 41,000 mi). | ||
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Prior to her transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard, ''Glacier'' had her smaller armament removed. In 1968, the 5-inch guns were also removed. Only M2 Browning machine guns, M60 machine guns and small arms were retained for law enforcement purposes. During 1973, she and her helicopters were painted red for improved Arctic visibility. | Prior to her transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard, ''Glacier'' had her smaller armament removed. In 1968, the 5-inch guns were also removed. Only M2 Browning machine guns, M60 machine guns and small arms were retained for law enforcement purposes. During 1973, she and her helicopters were painted red for improved Arctic visibility. | ||
In 1975, the ''Glacier'' was trapped in [[ice]] in [[Antarctica]] for six days, finally breaking free and escaping into the waters of Antarctic Sound on 10 March 1975, the Coast Guard in Long Beach, California, reported, the vessel's homeport. "She backed and rammed her way to the open sea with the use of only one of her two propellors," said the Coast Guard. Two of the three blades on her other screw were sheared off by "steel hard ice" on Wednesday 5 March, while en route to assist an Argentine icebreaker, the ''Gen. San Martin'', which had engine trouble while on a supply mission to a south polar scientific base. The Argentine ship made its way to freedom on its own. | In 1975, the ''Glacier'' was trapped in [[ice]] in [[Antarctica]] for six days, finally breaking free and escaping into the waters of Antarctic Sound on 10 March 1975, the Coast Guard in Long Beach, California, reported, the vessel's homeport. "She backed and rammed her way to the open sea with the use of only one of her two propellors," said the Coast Guard. Two of the three blades on her other screw were sheared off by "steel hard ice" on Wednesday 5 March, while en route to assist an Argentine [[icebreaker]], the ''Gen. San Martin'', which had engine trouble while on a supply mission to a south polar scientific base. The Argentine ship made its way to freedom on its own. | ||
==Decommissioning== | ==Decommissioning== | ||