Staten Island (AGB 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISIIIRY The U.S.S. STATEN ISLAND AGB-5 was originally laid down'as a Coast Guard Icebreaker of the Wind class at San Pedro, California. Prior to completion, however, the 6,500 ton icebreaker was labelled as lend lease material for the USSR and delivered to the Soviet Union on February 25, 1944. The Russians renamed her HSEVERNY VETERU which means Northwind, and assigned her to the Northern Sea Route Command, where she served until her ul- timate return to the United States. After nearly three years of negotiations the Soviets finally agreed to return the icebreaker, and thus on 19 December 1951 in Bremerhaven, Germany, a crew of six officers and sixty-five men took pos- session from the Red Navy. The vessel showed unmistakable signs of improper maintenance, and the degree of cleanliness was so low that the Crew was dis- gusted as they moved aboard for the first time. On january 31, 1952, the Russian named Northwind was officially commissioned the U.S.S. NORTHWIND AGB-5, thus taking her rightful place in the United States Navy. After two months of hard work by the crew with the aid of the German Shipyard and the U.S. Naval Advanced Base at Bremerhaven, the U.S.S. NDRTH- WIND, in company with the U.S.C.G.WESTWlND,plowed her way through the Atlan- tic and safely arrived in Boston on February 25, 1952. Since .there ,already existed a Coast Guard Icebreaker named the Northwind, -the ship was renamed the U.S.S. STATEN ISLAND on April 15, 1952. The STATEN ISLAND has d . r ma e seven successful ice-breaking operations to northern t wa ers carrying her standard, The Polar Bear on a green field to such giitant spots as Alert on Elsmere Island, approximately 435 miles from the North o e. D U , . e ing t e art est nott any Navy ship -and on occasion av h ' ring the trip to Alert, the ship set a record for trav I' h f h h of. ' r B G t e crew visions of wintering in the ArCtiC- Upon her successful I ' ' ' ' d d b C C.0mP 6:1100 of the mission and safe return, she was com- mefl C Y Omruander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet and received a placque ffvm Commander Service Squadron Four, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ' The prize treasure of the STATEN ISLAND ' ' I . . . , n t 1 ' ' , Ai plCf1l1g its work during tcebreakin ' S an ol pamtmg of the P .p . . 8 Operattons. The painting was A merchant ship S.S. MORMACELM 1 n appreciation for services rendered. latest cruise found the STATEN ISLAND working W ,fffSUPP1Ying two eskimo villages? a burned Royal Mounty. A Wt.

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,M three Japanese DE's, one tanker, one medium passenger- cargo ship, and two freighters. After the war, Captain Smith commanded the U.S.S. BECUNA for over two years, was transferred to the Armed Forces Staff College, and later became the COMSERVLANT Staff Gunnery and Training Officer. He was given command of the STATEN ISLAND in May of 1952, and commanded the ship on Operation Sunec, Sunac, and Nanook dur-in which time the AGB-5 resupplied Alert on Elsmere, Islandg hte Northernmost point any Navy vessel has reached undei its own power. Effective in May 1954 Commander Smith became Captain Frank M. Smith, USNQ and after bein relieved as Commanding Officer of the STATEN ISLANDg in july 1954, he went to Ne R War College. WPOIT, .I. to attend the Naval FRANK M. smlm commnmc orncen Captain Frank M. Smith, a native gf gtan, ford Kentucky, was born on February 15 1913. Upon graduation from the Uniteri States Naval Academy in June uf 1935, he was commissioned an Ensign and assigned to the Battleship MARYLAND, where hg stayed for nearly two years as Assistant Gun- nery Officer. During 1938 and 1939 he serv- ed on the Destroyers U.S.S. DORSEY and U.S.S. CLARKE, commanding the torpedo division. In 1940, a year prior to World War Two, LTIG Smith graduated from the Submarine School at New London Connecticut and re- ported aboard the S-27. He served as Tor- pedo Commander, First Lieutenant, and then Executive Officer, making almost con- tinuous war patrols in Pacific waters after the war broke out. Late in 1942 Lt. Smith was transferred to the S-33, and later to the S-55, making Lieutenant Commander early in 1945. ln August of 1944, he had his own command, the SEALg and, in September, his third stripe. From October 1944 to Feb- ruary 1945 Cdr. Smith was PCO of the U.S.S. BERGALL, and then was transferred to the HAMMERHEAD. As CO of this ship he went on three more war patrols, sinking