Minnetonka (WHEC 67) - Naval Cruise Book

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U9CGC Minne+onka The United States Coast Guard Cutter MINNETONKA, named after a lake in Minnesota, is one of twelve, two-hundred fifty-five foot High Endurance Cutters in the Coast Guard. She was built in San Pedro, California, having her keel laid on December 26, 1944, and was launched on November 21, 1945, She was commissioned in the Nation ' s oldest continuous seagoing service on September 20, 1946. Since then she has been as far West as Thailand, as far South as Central America, and as far North as Alaska. The MINNETONKA is 43 feet wide, 16 feet from the main deck to the waterline, and 102 feet from the top of her forward mast to her waterline. She displaces 2,000 tons and has a draft of I6V2 feet when fully loaded. Engineers would classify her as a single screw turbo-electric driven ship, which means she has two boilers which supply steam to turn a turbine. The turbine turns a generator which supplies electricity to turn the main motor which turns the single propeller. With 4,000 shaft h orse- power, she can cruise 5,300 nautical miles at a maximum speed of 18.4 knots, and 13,600 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 1 1 knots. The MINNETONKA ' s armament consists of one 5 38 cal. mount, two 81mm mortars, eight .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns, six torpedo tubes, one hedgehog mount, and various small arms. Her 164 man crew consists of 16 Commissioned Officers, 16 Chief Petty Officers, and 132 Enlisted Men. On extended patrols, one of her commissioned officers is a doctor in the U. S. Public Health Service. Her main duty is normally as an Ocean Station Vessel. She stands Ocean Station November, be- tween Hawaii and the coast of California, and Ocean Station Victor, between Midway Island and Japan. While on station, it is her job to observe and report the weather, provide a radio beacon, and to act as a navigational aid to trans-oceanic aircraft. While on station she is also readily available to aid any ship or plane in distress in the vicinity. Her other duties include search and rescue, boarding, patrolling regattas, and reserve training. While in port, she also participates in the motorboating safety program. Since in time of war, national emergencies, or when the President shall so direct, the Coast Guard leaves the Department of Transportation and becomes a part of the Navy, it is also part of the MINNETONKA ' s mission to remain prepared to assume her place in the Navy. To accomplish this, a constant program of training is in effect, culminated every year in a month of Navy Refresher Train- ing at San Diego, California. In December, 1967, the MINNETONKA was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, under op- erational control of the U. S. Seventh Fleet. Here she operated along the coast of Viet Nam in Market Time Operations, reducing the flow of contraband goods entering the country. In October, 1968, the MINNETONKA returned to her homeport. Long Beach, California.

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OAST sum ■ U8CGC Minnetonka Anchored in An Thoi Harbor Phu Owoc Island, South Viet Nam

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CDR H. G. HOLMGREN, USCG Commanding Officer MINNETONKA ' s deployment to Southeast Asia commenced on 17 December 1967 and ended on 17 October 1968. During this ten month period we travelled over 60,000 miles, and visited many interesting ports. Our Market Time Patrols v ere often monotonous, but sometimes extremely excit- ing, as when we encountered the enemy trawler. Whatever the assignment, the AAINNETONKA did the job, and did it well. Each man can feel justifi- ably proud of his individual contribution in mak- ing the MINNETONKA an outstanding ship of the line. - L -»