The U.S. Navy used to have polar icebreakers, I believe the last two were the USS GLACIER AND USS EDISTO. These platforms were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and the newer Wind class vessels were, I believe, Coast Guard from the beginning. Congress gave polar icebreaker duties to the Coast Guard sometime during the 1940s. In the 1970s two new polar icebreakers, USCGC POLAR STAR and USCGC POLAR SEA were commissioned and as time proceeded, the Wind class vessels were decommissioned. The newest polar icebreaker, USCGC HEALY is the only construction icebreaker in the fleet.
So the Navy doesn’t conduct polar icebreaking operations, that responsibility falls solely to the U.S. Coast Guard, the most professional of the three seagoing services.
Chuckles, that'll be the day.
“So the Navy doesn’t conduct polar icebreaking operations, that responsibility falls solely to the U.S. Coast Guard, the most professional of the three seagoing services.”
Good info. I have a HS classmate who is a USCG Academy grad. He had to miss our 55th HS reunion this year because it was his 50th at the Academy.
BTW, will the Polar Star have the capability to free these other two vessels? From what I have read about it, it can break up to 21ft of ice.