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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Mystery boat
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Another of the photos that Jerry came across at NARA is this one:
[IMaGe]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/DSC00022.jpg[/IMaGe]

I was happy to see it because it is a clear shot of two of the RNN boats (H-7 & H-8). There is a similar shot in Jerry Strahan's book on Higgins, but it is not as clear.

What caught my eye, though, was the boat in the middle of the photo, CG 7206:
[IMAGE]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/cg7206.jpg[/IMAGE]

Based on the shape of the bow and the charthouse, this is clearly a Higgins design, is about 45'-50' long (the landing craft alongside are 36' LCVs), and has an alpha-numeric hull number that is consistent with USCG practice of the period. The stern is quite radiused and the long trunk cabin is unusual. I couldn't find it in Scheina's US COAST GUARD CUTTERS AND CRAFT OF WORLD WAR II, so will be sending the CG Historian an email to inquire.

Al Ross

Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: May 1, 2011 - 8:17am
Total Posts: 994 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm

Al,

According to Strahan the Coast Guard ordered a number of the Higgins "Wonderboats" for rum runner activities in the Gulf of Mexico. These boats had a V bow and a stern tube for the propeller, a forerunner to the Eureka and LCVP. I presume the Coast Guard boats in the photo are Higgins Wonderboats.

Bill

Strahan, Jerry E. Andrew Jackson Higgins and the Boats that Won World Was II. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, LA 1994

Bill Smallshaw

Posted By: smallwi | Posted on: May 1, 2011 - 1:05pm
Total Posts: 141 | Joined: Jun 21, 2007 - 3:02pm

My guess is that it's a design for a proposed patrol boat for the Coast Guard to either augment or replace the 83 footers, which was, based on the fact the 83s served on into the 1960s, the Higgins designed cutter was never accepted ... Just an educated guess.

Garth

Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: May 1, 2011 - 1:19pm
Total Posts: 287 | Joined: Dec 19, 2010 - 11:45pm