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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USCGC Bibb (WAGC-31)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Romeo - Delta - Bravo NRDB

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with fleet clasp)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal

Treasury Class Coast Guard Cutter:

USCGC Bibb along with USCGC Campbell, USCGC Ingham, USCGC Taney, USCGC Spencer and Duane were all converted to Amphibious Force Flagships in 1944. Superstructures were extended aft, armament was changed to two 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts, and six 40mm gun mounts, a main mast was also added during conversion. All retained there Coast Guard designations except Duane. Duane was to be taken over by the Navy and designated USS Duane (AGC-6), but that plan was dropped and Duane retained her original designation as USCGC Duane (WAGC-33).

Laid down, 15 August 1935, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 14 January 1937

Commissioned USCGC George M. Bibb (WPG-31), 10 March 1937, at Charleston Navy Yard, CDR James Pine, USCG in command

USCGC George M. Bibb (WPG-31) was initially assigned to the Fifth Coast Guard District at Norfolk, VA.

Assigned, 5 September 1939, to joint Navy-Coast Guard neutrality patrol in the Atlantic Ocean

Reassigned as to ocean weather patrol in the Atlantic in February 1940

Transferred, 11 September 1940, to US Navy jurisdiction

Assigned to the Eastern Sea Frontier in December 1941

Assumed Atlantic convoy duty in May 1942

Converted to a combined operations communications ship (AGC) at Charleston Navy Yard in 1944

During World War II USCGC Bibb (WPG-31) was assigned to convoy duty in the American and Europe-Africa-Middle East Theaters and as a operations communications ship (WAGC-31) in the Pacific Theater

Returned to Coast Guard jurisdiction and converted for duty as an ocean weather station at Boston Navy Yard in January 1946

During the Vietnam War high endurance cutter USCG Bibb (WHEC-31) was assigned to Market Time duty from 4 July 1968 to 28 February 1969

Reassigned to Atlantic ocean service in May 1969

Decommissioned, 30 September 1985

USCGC Bibb earned two battle stars for World War II service and four campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Final Disposition, Sunk as an artificial reef off Key Largo, Florida, 28 November 1987

Specifications:
Displacement 2,350 t. (lt)
Length 327' 0"
Beam 41' 0"
Draft 12' 6" (max.)
Speed 19.5 kts (max)
Cruising Range @ 13.0 knots, 7,000 nautical miles

Complement
1937
12 officers
4 warrant officers
107 enlisted
1941
16 officers
5 warrant officers
202 enlisted
1966
10 officers
3 warrant officers
133 enlisted

Electronics
1943 HF/DF
1945 Radar - SK, SG-1
1966 Radar AN/SPS-29D, AN/SPA-52
1945 Fire Control Radar - Mk-26
1966 Fire Control Radar - Mk-26 MOD 4
1945 Sonar - QC series
1966 Sonar - SQS-11

Armament
1936
two single 5"/51 cal gun mounts
two 6-pdrs
one 1-pdr
1941
three single 5"/51 cal gun mounts
three single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
four .50 caliber Browning Machine Guns
two depth charge racks
one"Y" gun depth charge projector
1943
two single 5"/51 cal gun mounts
four single 3"/50 cal dual gun mounts
two single 20mm/80 AA gun mounts
one Hedgehog
six "K" gun depth charge projectors
two depth charge racks
1945
two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
three twin 40mm/60 AA gun mounts
four single 20mm/80 AA gun mounts
1946
one single 5"/38 cal dual gun mount
one twin 40mm;/60 AA gun mount
eight single 20mm/80 AA gun mounts
one Hedgehog
1966
one single 5"/38 MK30 Mod75 cal dual purpose gun mount w/ MK 52 MOD 3 director
one MK 10-1 Hedgehog
two (P&S) x Mk 32 MOD 5 TT
four MK 44 MOD 1 torpedoes
two .50 cal. MK-2 Browning Machine Guns
two MK-13 high altitude parachute flare mortars

Aircraft

1937, Curtiss SOC-4 USCG No. V172 (1937-1938)

1939, Grumman JF-2, USCG No. V146 (1939-)

Fuel Capacity NSFO 135,180 gallons (547 tons)

Propulsion

two Westinghouse double-reduction geared turbines

two Babcock & Wilcox sectional express, air-encased, 400 psi, 200° superheat

two 9' three-bladed propellers, 6,200shp (1966)

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
21k	*USCGC Bibb* (WPG-31)** after launching, 14 January 1937, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C. The peace-time armament of the Secretary Class cutters consisted of two 5-inch 51 caliber and two 6-pound signal guns, all mounted forward. The USCGC Hamilton, USCGC Bibb, USCGC Duane, USCGC Spencer and USS Taney originally carried a seaplane and associated derricks on the after deck. US Coast Guard photo.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office
61k	*USCGC Bibb* (WPG-31)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Coast Guard photo.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office
42k	*USCGC Bibb* (WAGC-31)** passing under the Cooper River Bridge at Charleston, S. C. circa 1944. US Coast Guard photo.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office
58k	*USCGC Bibb* (WPG-31)** under way, circa 1955, location unknown. US Coast Guard photo.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office
89k	*USCGC Bibb* (WHEC-31)** under way, 26 June 1968, at Pearl Harbor outbound for "Market Time" duty off the coast of Vietnam. US Navy Photo No. KN-16854 by PH3 R. Hartkopp.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office
39k	*USCGC Bibb* (WHEC-31)** moored pierside, date and location unknown. Photo courtesy J. D. Hooper USCG.	US Coast Guard Historian's Office

USCGC Bibb (WHEC-31)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
U.S. Coast Guard

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This Page Is Created And Maintained By Gary P. Priolo.

Last Updated 30 January 2015