The USCGC Evergreen (WAGL-295 / WLB-295 / WAGO-295 / WMEC-295) was a prominent Cactus-class seagoing buoy tender operated by the United States Coast Guard, notable for its extensive service spanning nearly five decades. Constructed at the Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company yard in Duluth, Minnesota, her keel was laid on April 15, 1942, and she was launched on July 3, 1942, at a cost of approximately $871,946. Her hull, made of welded steel plates reinforced with steel I-beams, measured 180 feet in length, with a beam of 37 feet and a draft of 12 feet. Her displacement was initially 935 tons, increasing to 1,025 tons as new equipment was added during her service life. Designed for light ice-breaking, Evergreen featured an ice belt of thicker steel around her waterline and a reinforced bow to facilitate navigation through icy waters. Powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system, she utilized two Cooper-Bessemer GND-8 engines producing 700 horsepower each, which drove a single 8.5-foot stainless-steel five-blade propeller via a Westinghouse electric motor. Her fuel capacity was about 30,000 gallons, enabling her to range up to 17,000 nautical miles at 8.3 knots, with a typical endurance at sea of 21 days. She was equipped with a cargo boom capable of lifting 20 tons and carried armament including a 3"/50 caliber gun, two 20mm guns, depth charges, and mousetrap anti-submarine rockets—though these were removed in 1966. Evergreen's service during World War II primarily involved weather patrols in the North Atlantic, contributing critical meteorological data that aided military operations. She also conducted escort missions, supply runs, and icebreaking activities, notably breaking channels through Arctic ice and supporting remote bases in Greenland. Post-war, she continued her ice patrol duties and was the first buoy tender assigned to the International Ice Patrol in 1948, performing ice condition assessments in the North Atlantic for decades. In 1964, Evergreen was converted into an oceanographic vessel (WAGO-295), becoming the Coast Guard’s first dedicated oceanographic ship, and equipped with advanced scientific instruments and a PDP-5 computer. Her oceanographic missions took her into the Arctic, Atlantic, and even to Germany and Brazil. Following a significant engine room fire in 1968, she was repaired and modernized, including a major renovation in 1972 that upgraded her systems and added a bow thruster. In her later years, Evergreen transitioned to a Medium-Endurance Cutter (WMEC-295), focusing on law enforcement and fisheries management. She seized vessels illegally fishing and smuggling drugs, including a notable 1983 marijuana bust and a 1990 cocaine seizure. Decommissioned on June 26, 1990, after 48 years of service, she was later used as a target and sunk by the U.S. Navy in 1992. Throughout her career, Evergreen earned numerous commendations, including the Arctic Service Medal and multiple unit awards, underscoring her significance in maritime safety, icebreaking, and oceanographic research.

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