–Gerald McGill

The 82’ Point-class Coast Guard Cutters were designed for search and rescue missions and law enforcement under any weather conditions at sea. Since being commissioned in 1960, the 82’s had been put into service along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts of the United States.

In the United States, the 82’ vessels carried an enlisted-only crew of eight.  The Officer-in-Charge was usually a Master Chief Boatswain Mate (E-9). For Vietnam duty two commissioned Officers were added to the crew in order to comply with international law regarding stopping and searching vessels at sea. An enlisted gunners mate was also added to the crew.  The original accommodations for 10 persons were expanded to 13 allowing for an 11 man crew, a Vietnamese liaison, and an extra rider.

With deployment dates only a short time away the U.S. Coast Guard preferred to keep the experienced stateside crews intact.  The Commanding Officers initially were U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates who had previously served as Commanding officers of a 95 foot Coast Guard cutter in the U.S.

Modifications were made in armament and to make room for the larger crew.

The forward deck mounted 20 millimeter machine gun was replaced with an 81 mm mortar topped with a .50 caliber machine gun.  Four .50 caliber machine guns were installed on the main deck, aft of the deck house, two amid ship and two astern.  On the fantail a steel frame was installed to the deck to stock five thousand rounds of machine gun ammunition.

Even with an eight-man crew in peace time conditions, the 82’ crew found their 17’ x 82’, three story home quite snug.  With an additional four persons and additional weapons and munitions aboard, space was at a premium. 

The mess deck and recreational area was 16 feet long and 6 feet wide with a green settee which continued up the starboard side.  Arranged inboard of the settee were two metal tables with just enough separation between them to get to the cushioned bench.  A sticky green rubberized mat covered the tables to keep dishware from sliding when the weather was rough.

Immediately to the left was the galley, a U-shaped lay out containing a stove, and refrigerator and enough space for the cook to prepare meals.  Fortunately, the Point Welcome carried a cook and, more fortunately, he was a good one.  He was a good baker too.  The tables had three circular seats each on the inboard side which could swing out to provide additional seating and then swing back under the table to provide more walking room.

The watertight door at the front of the mess deck led into the main crew’s quarters, a cozy 10 feet long.  Each side had three pipe bunks made of canvas stretched within the tubular metal frame and topped with a thin mattress.  When not in use they could be folded up against the bulkheads.    

Two crew members were always on watch on the bridge and one additional was on deck generally on the stern as a lookout and messenger if needed.  An engine watch was not required because the 82s were designed so that all engine functions could be monitored and controlled from the bridge.

Beyond the crew’s quarters came the crew’s head with barely enough space to accommodate the sink, shower, and commode.

On the deck above the mess deck was the Captain’s cabin.  This cabin had two sets of bunk beds.  Usually the Captain, Executive Officer, Vietnam liaison and the Chief Engineman or Chief Boatswain Mate occupied these bunks.  There was also a small head.

The interior living spaces of the 82s were air conditioned. This “luxury” enabled the Cutters and their crews to engage in longer-term out of port missions than other WPBs. The crew could expect to do three to five day patrols, followed by an in-port day. This process would be repeated five times, and then we would have a few days of rest before going back out. During the break, ship’s maintenance would occur. It has been said that one year at war was equal to eight years of peacetime service for the Cutters.