USCGC CAPE SHOALWATER (WPB-95324)

• Class and Type: USCGC Cape Shoalwater (WPB-95324) was a 95-foot Cape-class patrol boat built for the United States Coast Guard. • Construction and Commissioning: She was constructed by the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, and was commissioned in 1959. • Primary Missions: The vessel’s key missions included search and rescue (SAR), law enforcement, and maritime patrol duties, primarily along the U.S. coastline. • Named After a Cape: Like all Cape-class patrol boats, she was named after a geographic cape in the United States—Cape Shoalwater, located in Washington state. • Homeports: Over her service, Cape Shoalwater was stationed at various locations, including Port Angeles, Washington, and later in Florida. • Vietnam War Service: In 1968, she was deployed to South Vietnam as part of Operation Market Time, supporting interdiction of North Vietnamese supply routes by sea. • Combat Operations: While in Vietnam, she conducted coastal patrols, boarding and inspecting vessels, and provided gunfire support in combat zones. • Return to the U.S.: After her Vietnam service, she returned to the United States and resumed peacetime patrol and rescue operations. • Decommissioning: USCGC Cape Shoalwater was decommissioned in 1990 after more than three decades of service. • Legacy: The vessel’s history is emblematic of the Coast Guard’s multi-mission role, serving both domestically and in combat zones—a testament to the adaptability and dedication of her crews over the years.