The USCGC Bibb (WPG-31) was a 327-foot Secretary-Class (or Treasury-Class) Coast Guard cutter commissioned in 1936. As one of seven similar "combat cutters," Bibb was named after George M. Bibb, a former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Constructed to serve both peacetime and wartime missions, she featured a robust design suited for a variety of operational roles. During World War II, Bibb played a significant role in the Battle of the Atlantic, primarily serving as a convoy escort. Notably, in February 1943, Bibb responded to an attack on a convoy when the SS Henry R. Mallory was torpedoed, and Captain Raney defied orders to leave survivors behind, rescuing 202 men from icy waters. In 1944, she continued convoy duties between the U.S. and North Africa, mainly to Bizerte in Tunisia. Transitioning to the Pacific theater in January 1945, Bibb served as the flagship for Commander, Mine Craft, Pacific Fleet, and is credited with destroying a Japanese kamikaze aircraft at Karema Retto. In peacetime, Bibb operated on ocean stations, providing weather data and navigational beacons for trans-Atlantic traffic. Her rescue efforts included aiding the Bermuda Sky Queen airliner. During the Vietnam War, she transported John Kerry after he was wounded on a Swift boat. Bibb was decommissioned in 1985 and subsequently sunk as an artificial reef off Key Largo in November 1987, lying on her side at a depth of approximately 130 feet. The sinking site is located about six miles offshore and is shared with the USS Duane, another Treasury-Class ship. Throughout her service, Bibb was a versatile and resilient vessel, contributing significantly during wartime and peacetime operations. She also appeared in the 1952 film "Walk East on Beacon" and has a notable place in maritime history, especially for her rescue efforts and service in multiple theaters.

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