USCGC Westwind (WAGB-281)

USCGC Westwind (WAGB-281) was a Wind-class icebreaker that served in the United States Coast Guard as USCGC Westwind (WAG-281), the Soviet Navy as the Severni Polius, and again in the U.S. Coast Guard as USCGC Westwind (WAGB-281).

Construction
Westwind was one of the icebreakers designed by Lieutenant commander Edward Thiele and Gibbs & Cox of New York, who modeled them after plans for European icebreakers he obtained before the start of World War II. She was the fourth of seven completed ships of the Wind-class of icebreakers operated by the United States Coast Guard. Her keel was laid on 24 March 1972 at Western Pipe and Steel Company shipyards in San Pedro. She was launched on 31 March 1943 and commissioned on 18 September 1944.

Her hull was of unprecedented strength and structural integrity, with a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, a cut away forefoot, rounded bottom, and fore, aft and side heeling tanks. Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controlabiity and resistance to damage.

Westwind, along with the other Wind-class icebreakers, was heavily armed for an icebreaker due to her design being crafted during World War II. Her main battery consisted of two twin-mount 5 in deck guns. Her anti-aircraft weaponry consisted of three quad-mounted Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft autocannons. and six Oerlikon 20 mm autocannons. She also carried six K-gun depth charge projectors and a Hedgehog as anti-submarine weapons. After her return from Soviet service she received a single 5”38 cal. mount forward and a helicopter deck aft. Sometime after 1966 she had the forward mount removed.

Ship's history

 * 1942 - 24 August: Keel laid at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro, CA, USA.
 * 1943 - 31 March: Launched at San Pedro, CA, USA.
 * 1944 - 18 September: Commissioned. USS Westwind AGB-6.
 * 1945 - 21 February: Transferred to Soviet Union and renamed Severni Polius (North Pole, Северный Полюс).
 * 1951 - 19 December: Returned to the United States Coast Guard.
 * 1952 - 22 September: Recommissioned as Westwind after refit from Soviet service.
 * 1954 - 30 September: Participated in 121 day Arctic cruise, returned to New York Harbor, Brooklyn Navy Yard.
 * 1955 – "Westwind" called at Bouvetøya in the Southern Ocean at the request of the South African government.
 * 1956 - "Westwind engaged in DEWLINE support Operations in the Arctic.
 * 1957 - "Westwind" engaged in DEWLINE support Operations in the Arctic.
 * 1962 - SUNEC '62 - Hull Stress Tests Conducted for design of future Icebreakers
 * 1964 - Westwind arrives in area of United States Coast Guard LORAN Station Cape Atholl, Greenland.
 * 1964 - 18 August: Returned from Arctic cruise.
 * 1966 - Crossed Artic Circle 22 June 1966 at 52N 03W on SUNEC66 Supply Northeast Command, Thule Greenland
 * 1967 - Deep Freeze 67 Crossed Antarctic circle at 67S 36W 3 March 67 Assisted Navy Seabees building Scientific Station on Palmer Peninsula
 * 1974 - Began extensive refit to strengthen bow, replace engines, change propeller shafts, and received new "Icebreaker Red" paint scheme.
 * 1975 - Continued extensive refit.
 * 1976 - Homeport: Milwaukee, WI. - Summer North Trip - Arctic Circle, Via - St. John's Newfoundland,Thence to Thule, Greenland for summer breakouts.
 * 1977 - Homeport: Milwaukee, WI. - Winter Breakouts, Great Lakes - Ran Aground, Seven Foot Shoals, near entrance to St. Mary's River, Lake Huron.
 * 1984 - Westwind sustains major hull damage in the Weddell Sea on a Deep Freeze cruise. 6 ft tall, 140 ft long tear in the hull that was temporarily patched by the crew until repaired in South America.
 * 1986 - Funding cuts reducing operating funds for icebreakers ends plans to refit Westwind.
 * 1988 - 28 February: Decommissioned.