The USCGC Escanaba (WPG-77) was a 165-foot (50-meter) United States Coast Guard cutter constructed in 1932 by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan. As an "A" type cutter, she was designed primarily for light ice-breaking, rescue, and law enforcement duties on the Great Lakes. She was notable for being the first Coast Guard cutter equipped with a geared-turbine drive, powered by two Babcock & Wilcox boilers producing 1,500 shaft horsepower, and carried approximately 41,500 gallons of fuel oil. Her hull dimensions and engineering enabled her to perform her specialized tasks effectively. Commissioned on 23 November 1932, Escanaba was named after the city and river in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Her initial service was centered on ice-breaking, rescue, and law enforcement on the Great Lakes, earning her a reputation as a beloved regional vessel. During this period, she notably rescued the crew of the SS Henry Cort in 1934. From 1932 to 1941, she was based in Grand Haven, Michigan, and served as a key part of her community. Following the outbreak of World War II, Escanaba was redeployed to the Atlantic, with her home port shifted to Boston, where she joined the Greenland Patrol. Her wartime service included escort duties, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine efforts. She engaged with enemy submarines, conducted weather patrols, and notably participated in the rescue of survivors from the SS Dorchester in February 1943, where she pioneered the use of rescue swimmers in survival suits—a significant development in rescue operations. During this event, she rescued 133 survivors, with only one succumbing later. Escanaba’s service ended tragically on 13 June 1943 when she was struck and sank rapidly after a fiery explosion, likely caused by a drifting mine or a torpedo, with nearly her entire 105-man crew lost. Only two survivors and one body were recovered. Her loss deeply impacted her home community, which raised funds to honor her memory, including the commissioning of a new cutter bearing her name in 1987. The original Escanaba remains a symbol of sacrifice and resilience in Coast Guard history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.