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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
ex
 USS Edisto (AGB-2) (1950 - 1965)
 USS Edisto (AG-89) (1947 - 1950)


International Radio Call Signs

USS Edisto (AG-89/AGB-2)
1947 International Radio Call Sign
Nan - Love - King - Yoke
 NLKY
USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
1965 International Radio Call Sign
November - India - Quebec - Uniform
 NIQU

JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Jangle (V)ictor - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968

USS Edisto Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Antarctic Service Medal (7)

USCGC Edisto Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon - National Defense Service Medal - Antarctic Service Medal
Burton Island Class Icebreaker:
  • Laid down, 15 May 1945, at Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched, 29 May 1946
  • Commissioned USS Edisto (AG-89), 20 March 1947, CDR. E. C. Folger in command
  • Reclassified as Icebreaker (AGB-2), 1 March 1949
  • Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, transferred to the US Coast Guard and commissioned USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284), 20 October 1965 at Boston, MA., CAPT. William K. Earle in command
  • Decommissioned by the US Coast Guard, 15 November 1974 at USCG Yard, Baltimore, MD.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal
  • Final Disposition, transferred to the General Service Administration and sold, 29 September 1977, to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, MD., resold to Union Minerals Company , Carey, N.J. and dismantled at Baltimore, MD.
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    As Built - 3,575 t.(lt) 6,515 t.(fl)
    Coast Guard 1967 - 3,052 t.(lt) 6,481 t.(fl)
    Length 269'
    Beam 63' 9"
    Draft 25' 9"
    Speed
    Max Sustained 13.4 kts, 30,929-mi radius (1967)
    Economic 11.6 kts, 32,485-mi radius (1967)
    Complement
    Navy 353
    Coast Guard 204
    Armament
    Navy - one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    Coast Guard - 5'/38 dual purpose gun mount (removed when she assigned to the Great Lakes)
    Aircraft two helicopters
    Propulsion
    six Fairbanks Morse 10-cylinder Diesel engines driving 6 Westinghouse DC generators which in turn drove 2 electric motors
    two propellers, 5,000 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Edisto (AG-89)
    Edisto
    09080231    		 55k
    Namesake
    Edisto - Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands, the larger part of which lies in Charleston County, with its southern tip in Colleton County. The town of Edisto Beach is in Colleton County, while the Charleston County part of the island is unincorporated.
    The island, the town, and the Edisto River are named after the historic Edistow people, a Native American sub-tribe of the Cusabo Indians, who inhabited the island as well as nearby mainland areas. (Wikipedia)
    Photo - Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island Serpentarium, Edisto Island Museum (Tripadvisor)
    Map - Edisto Beach (Google Maps)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Edisto 177k USS Edisto (AG-89) underway off Point Vincente near San Pedro, CA., 13 March 1947. Although designed to carry two 5"/38 twin mounts, she and her sister were completed after World War II with one single 5"/38 mount forward and a helicopter deck aft.
    US Navy photo # USN 371216 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto
    09080227    		 217k USS Edisto (AG-89) moored pierside at NAS Quonset Point, R.I., 30 June 1947.
    U.S. Navy photo    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Edisto
    09080232
    NARA 6929003    		 2621k USS Edisto (AG-89) in heavy ice, 18 September 1947, location unknown.
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration NAID 6929003 Buships Photo BS 134211, Local ID 19-NN-AG-89Edisto-134211
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration NAID 6928999 Buships Photo BS 134207, Local ID 19-NN-AG-89Edisto-134207
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration NAID 6928990 Buships Photo BS 134198, Local ID 19-NN-AG-89Edisto-134198    		 John Spivey
    Edisto
    09080236
    NARA 6928999    		 607k
    Edisto
    09080237
    NARA 6928990    		 567k
    USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    Edisto 112k USS Edisto (AGB-2) in the ice, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 111k USS Edisto (AGB-2) underway, 22 January 1953, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # USN 477319, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 29k Family and friends wish USS Edisto (AGB-2) farewell as she departs Boston Naval Shipyard, 30 October 1955 for a six month Operation Deepfreeze Antarctic deployment.
    United Press Telephoto.    		 Ron Reeves
    Edisto 45k USS Edisto (AGB-2) coming alongside USS Lindenwald (LSD-6) in the Arctic during "Operation Dewline," in 1955. Walter Kuecks EN3 USS Edisto
    Edisto
    09080230    		 344k USS Edisto (AGB-2) steaming Through Roaring Fifties. Painting, Watercolor on Board; by Robert Charles Haun; 1956
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Accession #: 88-192-C    		  
    Edisto 70k USS Edisto (AGB-2) and USS Atka (AGB-3) moored together at Goose Bay, Labrador, 18 June 1960. Photo by PH1 Class Scott
    US Navy photo # USN 1051798    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Edisto 443k USS Edisto (AGB-2) underway, date and location unknown. David Buell
    Edisto 175k USS Edisto (AGB-2) clears a path through the ice-covered Antarctic waters, 5 April 1959 for the Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282) (center) and the British Scientific Research Ship RRS John Biscoe II. The Edisto and Northwind were sent to free John Biscoe which became trapped while carrying supplies and rotation personnel to the British scientific research bases in the Antarctic. At one point the Northwind also became trapped in the ice.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Edisto 216k USS Edisto (AGB-2) keeping the sea lanes open off Greenland, circa June-July 1959. Marc Schenck, Photo by his father LTjg. Bernard Schenck USS Glacier
    Edisto 214k USS Edisto (AGB-2) keeping the sea lanes open off Greenland, circa June-July 1959. Marc Schenck, Photo by his father LTjg. Bernard Schenck USS Glacier
    Edisto 245k USS Edisto (AGB-2) keeping the sea lanes open off Greenland, circa June-July 1959. Marc Schenck, Photo by his father LTjg. Bernard Schenck USS Glacier
    Edisto 245k USS Edisto (AGB-2) underway in open waters with the Greenland coast in the background, circa June-July 1959. Marc Schenck, Photo by his father LTjg. Bernard Schenck USS Glacier
    Edisto
    09080234    		 949k USS Edisto (AGB-2) stationary in the ice in November 1964 while enroute to Greenland. With no leads the commanding Officer, CAPT. Nickerson, let the crew have a special day on the ice playing volleyball. (Scott Fortress's father was there)
    US Navy photos by PH1 Warren Samuel    		 09080205 from US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    09080233 and 09080234 thanks to Scott Fortress
    Edisto
    09080205    		 53k
    Edisto
    09080233    		 52k
    Edisto/Atka 80k USS Edisto (AGB-2) in January or February 1965 while supporting the construction of Palmer Station on Anvers Island off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula during Operation Deep Freeze. During the 1950s a large air search radar was mounted on the former fire control platform over the bridge and her other electronic systems redistributed.
    US Navy photo # KN-1872 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto/Atka 146k Personal of the ice island Arlis II take part in a striking the flag ceremony shortly before being evacuated by USS Edisto (AGB-2) in May 1965. Arlis II was being used as a base for scientific observations but the Navy decided to evacuate it when the East Greenland Current began to carry the island and the surrounding floes rapidly south.
    AP Wirephoto dated 19 May 1965.    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto
    09080229    		 205k USS Edisto (AGB-2) breaks through an ice pack in the Greenland Sea, 1965
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo # USN 1111206    		  
    Edisto
    09080228    		 263k USS Edisto (AGB-2) in the ice, date and location unknown.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo # unknown    		 Tommy Trampp and Scott Fortress
    Edisto 80k USS Edisto (AGB-2) underway, date and location unknown
    US Navy photo from Veramar Arts canvas prints.    		 Tommy Trampp
    USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    Edisto 484k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway during Operation Deep Freeze '69/70 while iced over in calm waters in the Ross Sea, circa December 1969 to February 1970 Gary French AT3 USCG USCGC Edisto
    Edisto 1982k USCGC Burton Island (WAGB-283), foreground, and USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway in the ice during Operation Deep Freeze '69/70, circa December 1969 to February 1970 Gary French AT3 USCG USCGC Edisto
    Edisto 206k USCGC Burton Island (WAGB-283), foreground, and USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway in the ice during Operation Deep Freeze '69/70, circa December 1969 to February 1970 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 108k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) in the ice, Goose Bay, Labrador Canada. Carl R Friberg
    Edisto 99k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) in foreground, arriving in the Great Lakes from Boston, heads for her new homeport at Milwaukee, WI., followed by the icebreaker USCGC Mackinaw, 13 December 1971. Edisto is to support Mackinaw, veteran Great Lakes icebreaker, in a program to extend the shipping season in Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway during the winter and during the summer she will resume her polar missions in the Arctic.US Coast Guard Photo No. 12137-P6-0 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 37k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) moored on the Milwaukee River, WI. circa 1973-74. Ken Laesser
    Edisto 71k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, date and location unknown. US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto
    09080235    		 2469k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo # 220517-G-G0000-002    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto 35k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) entering Smith Sound in 1966.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto 52k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, 19 June 1967, location unknown. Note the Navy Kaman H-2 Seasprite helicopter on her flight deck.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto 90k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 57k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard Photo No. 1(G1)-06-15-67 (02); 15 June 1967    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto 36k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Coast Guard Photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Edisto 68k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) with USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in Arctic ice, post 1968. Note the hovering HH-52A in arctic operations coloring.
    US Coast Guard photo.    		 US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    Edisto 1905k USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284) underway in the harbor at Wellington, N. Z., 19 January 1970. Photograph from the Chris Howell photo collection

    For more photos and information about USS / USCGC Edisto, see; Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Folger Jr., Edward Clinton, USN (USNA 1929)20 March 1947 - 3 June 1948USS Edisto (AG-89)
    02CDR. Maher, Eugene Hugh, USN (USN 1932)3 June 1948 - 30 June 1949USS Edisto (AG-89 / AGB-2)
    03CDR. Morrison, William Fisher, USN (USNA 1935) :RADM30 June 1949 - September 1950USS Edisto (AG-89 / AGB-2)
    04CDR. Nicholas, Nicholas John, USN (USA 1932)September 1950 - 22 August 1951USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    05CDR. Leroy, James Milton, USN (USNA 1929)22 August 1951 - October 1953USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    06CDR. Raymer, Jackson Hunter, USN (USNA 1938)October 1953 - August 1955USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    07CDR. Luther, Roger William, USNAugust 1955 - August 1956USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    08CDR. Plummer, John Everett, USN (USNA 1940)August 1956 - August 1958USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    09CAPT. Davison, Henry Donald (Hank), USN (USNA 1940)August 1958 - August 1959USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    10CDR. Martin, Robert Anthony, (USNA 1942)August 1959 - 26 October 1960USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    11CDR. Fold, Bernard Gregory, USN26 October 1960 - 14 November 1960USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    12CDR. Evans Jr., Griffith Conrad, USNR14 November 1960 - 21 November 1961USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    13CDR. Davidson, Edward Albert, USN21 November 1961 - 5 May 1963USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    14CDR. Nickerson, Norval Eugene, USN5 May 1963 - 1 September 1965USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    15CDR. Wash, John Lange, USN (USNA 1946)1 September 1965 - 15 November 1965USS Edisto (AGB-2)
    01CAPT. Earle, William Kehr, USCG (USCGA 1940)20 October 1965 - 15 February 1968USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    02CAPT. Steele, Henry E., USCG15 February 1968 - 1970USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    03CAPT. Brasier, William J., USCG (MMA 1950)1970 - 1972USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    04CAPT. Lonsdale, Adrian Lorence (Lons), USCG (USCGA 1950)1972 - December 1972USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    05CAPT. Knapp, Richard Joseph, USCG (USCGA 1951) :RADMDecember 1972 - 15 November 1974USCGC Edisto (WAGB-284)
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    US Coast Guard Historian's Office
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 15 November 2024