USCGC SHERMAN

• Namesake: USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) was named after John Sherman, a former Secretary of the Treasury who served under President Rutherford B. Hayes. • Commissioning: Sherman was commissioned into the U.S. Coast Guard on 3 September 1968, as part of the Hamilton-class high endurance cutters. • Vietnam Service: Sherman served during the Vietnam War, participating in Operation Market Time, which involved interdicting supplies by sea to North Vietnamese forces. • Drug Interdiction: In 2007, Sherman made one of the largest drug seizures in Coast Guard history at that time, intercepting the fishing vessel Gatun with over 20 tons of cocaine aboard. • International Operations: Sherman was deployed to various international missions, including serving as an enforcement platform for United Nations sanctions against Iraq in the 1990s. • Rescue Missions: Over her career, Sherman was credited with saving hundreds of lives at sea, performing multiple high-profile search and rescue operations. • Homeports: The cutter was homeported in several locations, including Boston, Massachusetts; Alameda, California; and Honolulu, Hawaii. • Modernization: Sherman underwent a major Fleet Renovation and Modernization (FRAM) program in the late 1980s, which upgraded her weapons and electronics systems. • Decommissioning: After nearly 50 years of service, Sherman was decommissioned on 29 March 2018, making her one of the longest-serving cutters of her class. • Transfer to Sri Lanka: After decommissioning, Sherman was transferred to the Sri Lanka Navy in 2018, where she was recommissioned as SLNS Gajabahu (P626), continuing her legacy in a new role.