USCGC Chase (WHEC-718)

USCGC Chase (WHEC-718) was a Hamilton class High Endurance Cutter of the United States Coast Guard. She was laid down on October 26, 1966 at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, launched on May 20, 1967 and commissioned on March 11, 1968. Chase is the fourth of twelve Hamilton Class, 378 ft cutters, and the third cutter named in honor of Salmon Portland Chase. She was decommissioned on March 29, 2011 and transferred to the Nigerian Navy as an excess defense article under the Foreign Assistance Act as NNS Thunder (F90).

Design
Chase is designed as a high endurance cutter. Her crossing range of 9600 nmi at 20 kn, and 80 ft flight deck, capable of handling both Coast Guard and Navy helicopters, make the Chase an ideal platform for extended patrol missions. Her missions include enforcement of all U.S. maritime laws and treaties, fisheries conservation, marine pollution response, defense readiness, and search and rescue. Chase was one of the first naval vessels built with a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant. Chase’s engineering plant includes two 3500 hp diesel engines, and two 18000 hp gas turbines, which can achieve a top speed of 28 kn. Two 13 ft diameter controllable pitch propellers, combined with a retractable and rotatable bow propulsion unit, give Chase high maneuverability. Chase’s capabilities are enhanced by advanced air search and surface search radars including the AN/SPS-73 digital surface radar system that incorporates a state of the art computerized collision avoidance system. Chase uses the Shipboard Command and Control System (SCCS) which uses a network of computers including large screen displays and a dedicated satellite network for communications. A closed circuit TV system will enable the Commanding Officer to monitor flight deck operations, machinery conditions, towing, damage control, and related activities from the bridge.

Vietnam and the 1970s
After being commissioned in 1968, Chase participated in Operation Market Time. From December 1969 to May 1970, under Commander, Task Force 115, Chase participated in more than twelve gunfire support missions in the Vietnam War. For her service, Chase was awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Vietnam Service Medal. Chase visited the ports of Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Kao-Hsiung (Taiwan) on this patrol. In June 1970, Chase returned to her homeport in Boston, Massachusetts transiting the Panama Canal.

Between September 1970 and December 1972, Chase assumed Ocean Station duties at various times on the Charlie, Delta and Echo stations. During this period Chase visited ports such as Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba and Kingston, Jamaica. In 1972 Chase transited the Arctic Circle, and visited England, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal.

In 1973, as part of a Destroyer-Cruiser Flotilla, Chase participated in Operation Seaconex (COMCRUDESFLOT TWO). On this operation, Chase transited the Straits of Gibraltar, and visited Portugal and Morocco. Between the years of 1970 and 1974, Chase conducted three or four Search and Rescue cases daily while on various Ocean Station duties.

Between 1974 and 1978, Chase continued to patrol the waters of the Atlantic. Chase visited Italy, Spain, Ireland, and France. In 1980, Chase was back in the U.S., on scene at the America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1982, Chase participated in "Safe Pass 1982," a member of the Fleet Composite Operational Readiness Group

1980s
1981 Chase participated in the Mariel Boatlift, rescuing Cuban civilians in district 7; all crew received humanitarian medals. From October 1983 to July 1984, Chase served in Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. invasion of Grenada. For her service Chase received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Until March 1988 Chase continued to display her versatility in performing all Coast Guard missions. Chase repatriated more than 338 migrants during its Haitian Migration Interdiction Oerations (HMIO) between the January 1985 and March 1988 and also conducted many drug interdiction operations.

An engine room fire on May 8, 1985, killed one crewman and disabled the cutter as it was traveling 70 miles southeast of Cape Cod. MK3 (3d class machinist technician) Nicholas V. Berei, 22, of Philadelphia was killed. A Coast Guard helicopter removed the crewman's body to a Cape Cod funeral home, and the cutter Chilula (WMEC 153) was sent to tow the disabled cutter to Boston.

In 1989, Chase was temporarily decommissioned and entered Bath Ironworks Shipyard in Portland, Maine, to undergo the Fleet Renovation and Modernization (FRAM) program. At Bath, Chase was virtually torn apart and reassembled with substantial improvements to many of her systems. Approximately seventy five percent of the shipboard electronics were changed or modified; a third of the existing engineering systems were overhauled or replaced; and major internal space reconfigurations improved the crew’s living conditions.

1990s
On March 22, 1991, Chase returned after completing FRAM, and was recommissioned. After 23 years of service in Boston, Massachusetts, the Mayor of Boston proclaimed October 14, 1991, as "Chase Appreciation Day." Chase was to depart for her new homeport of San Pedro, California.

Chase arrived at her new homeport of San Pedro, California on November 15, 1991. Within a year, Chase continued to lead the Coast Guard and represent the U.S. On September 22, 1992, Chase visited Vladivostok, Russia, serving as the host for the historic reopening of the American Consulate. In 1994, Chase led U.S. Forces into Port-au-Prince Harbor, Haiti and established the first Harbor Defense Command in foreign territorial waters. During this period, Chase participated in Operation Able Manner/Vigil in Haiti. Chase interdicted 130 Cuban asylum seekers. In 1995, Chase boarded the M/V Xin Ji Li Hou off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, and interdicted 150 Chinese migrants. Between April to June 1997, Chase was leading the way again by being the first Coast Guard cutter to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT 97) held in Southeast Asia. Chase worked with the Royal Thai Navy and visited Singapore, Songklha and Pattaya, Thailand. Chase received the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation from Vice Admiral Card for the boarding and custody exchange of the high seas driftnet vessel CAO YU. In 1998, Chase departed with the USS Russell (DDG-59), USS Crommelin (FFG-37), and the USS O'Brien (DD-975) for Military Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Persian Gulf. During this patrol, the Chase diverted four vessels in violation of United Nations Sanctions against Iraq, interdicted 1,527,740 gallons of fuel-oil, and conducted eighty-six gunnery exercises.

In 1999, Chase seized seven metric tons of cocaine, then the second largest cocaine bust in Coast Guard history. Also on this patrol, Chase was also the first U.S. military ship to pull into Corinto, Nicaragua, in over thirty years.

In August 1999, Chase arrived at its new homeport in San Diego, California. There, Chase earned an overall EXCELLENT during its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability, and was awarded the Distinguished Coast Guard Battle “E” Ribbon.

Nigerian service
In 2011, Chase was decommissioned and donated to the Nigerian Navy, which commissioned her as a frigate, NNS Thunder. Thunder was commissioned into Nigerian service on January 23, 2011.

In March 2012, Thunder collided with a vessel owned by Total S.A. on the Bonny River.