The USCGC Escanaba (WHEC-64) was an Owasco-class high endurance cutter constructed for service with the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Built by Western Pipe & Steel at their San Pedro shipyard, the vessel was originally named Otsego, after Otsego Lake in New York. However, before commissioning, she was renamed Escanaba in honor of a previous cutter that was sunk during WWII, as well as the city of Escanaba in Michigan. The ship was commissioned on 20 March 1946, bearing the initial designation WPG-64, which was later changed to WHEC-64 to reflect her role as a High Endurance Cutter (HEC), with the "W" indicating her Coast Guard classification. Although intended for wartime service, the end of WWII meant she never saw combat. Her physical specifications are not detailed on the page, but as an Owasco-class cutter, she was designed for extended patrols and versatility in law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue missions. Her home port was Alameda, California, from 1946 until 1954, after which she was decommissioned and placed in storage until 1957. She then served out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, until her final decommissioning in 1974. Throughout her active years, Escanaba was involved in numerous notable rescue and law enforcement operations. She assisted vessels such as the American Pilot and Maumee Sun following their collision in 1965, and she rescued two survivors from the sinking MV Monte Palomares in 1966, which resulted in the loss of 32 lives. She also rescued Cuban refugees in 1967, and in 1969, she was temporarily disabled east of Virginia Beach due to main motor bearing failure. In December 1970, Escanaba played a heroic role by rescuing 31 crew members from the Finnish tanker Ragny, which had broken in two during a storm. For this rescue, her crew was awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation and the Finnish Lifesaving Medal. She continued service until her decommissioning on 28 June 1974, after which she was scrapped. Her operational history underscores her importance in maritime safety and law enforcement during her nearly three decades of service.

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