The inshore construction tender USCGC Smilax (WLIC 315) celebrated her 80th anniversary during a ceremony attended by current and former crewmembers in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina this week.
USCGC Smilax (WLIC 315), 2023. (USCG photo)
Commissioned 1 November 1944 during World War II, the 100-foot Smilax is the oldest active Coast Guard cutter, recognized as the “Queen of the Fleet,” a title she has held since 2011 when the fellow WWII vet, USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167)/ex-USS Shackle, was decommissioned after 67 years of service.
The crewmembers of the USCGC Smilax (WLIC 315), Coast Guard Queen of the Fleet, take a moment for a group photo, Nov. 7, 2024, during the 80th Anniversary celebration of the cutter held in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. The celebration hosted multiple former crewmembers of the Smilax and current crewmembers provided tours of the cutter as well. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Lally)
The Smilax was built in 1943 by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works in Dubuque, Iowa. When most other ships were being built in 40 days, Smilax was built over the course of a year and cost approximately $194,238, making her the most expensive ship in its class.
She was originally homeported in Fort Pierce, Florida but moved to a new homeport in New Smyrna Beach, Florida from June 1, 1954, to Nov. 9, 1965.
After being fitted with new engines and receiving a 70-foot barge, the Smilax was re-classified as a WLI-315, making her an inland buoy tender responsible for short-range ATON along the coastal and inland waterways, particularly in shallow waters or areas where larger tenders cannot reach.
She moved to a new homeport in Brunswick, Georgia on Nov. 9, 1965, before being re-classified again as a WLIC on Oct. 1, 1979. As a WLIC, or inland construction tender, the Smilax became responsible for constructing, repairing, and maintaining fixed ATON within inland waterways. It remained there until July 1999, when she moved to her current homeport in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
“One ship, one crew, everything says Smilax and they all work together,” said retired Chief Warrant Officer Scott McAloon, former commanding officer of the Smilax, from 2010 to 2014. “Everybody’s dirty in a set of coveralls, and it’s just such a fun ship to be part of. These construction tenders, they will humble you. From ship driving to getting out on the deck and working, it’s a real special thing.”
Smilax plays a crucial role in maintaining navigation aids in Oregon Inlet, Hatteras Inlet, Ocracoke Inlet, and Beaufort Inlet. She oversees 1,226 fixed aids and 26 buoys across the Outer Banks to ensure safe passage for various types of vessels. She also operates a 70-foot barge equipped with a crane capable of lifting heavy aids, making her well-suited for the shallow and shifting waters of the region.
By comparison, the oldest active-duty ship in the Navy (besides the floating museum ship USS Constitution) is the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19).
Blue Ridge’s keel was laid on 27 February 1967, and she was commissioned on 14 November 1970. Her rich history includes commanding Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind during the Vietnam War, receiving the Humanitarian Service Medal in 1984 for rescuing Vietnamese refugees during Operation Boat People, performing a nine-and-a-half month deployment as flagship for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command during the Persian Gulf War, and rushing supplies and relief to Japan during Operation Tomodachi.
She became the oldest in the fleet in 2014 when the USS Denver (LPD-9) was decommissioned after 46 years of service.
Like Smilax, Blue Ridge is also still hard at work, having recently wrapped up her longest summer patrol in five years, a 77-day, 10,000-nautical-mile West Pac cruise with stops in Malaysia, Palau, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
And she carries golden anchors, albeit to denote her regular retention awards. After all, duty in Yokosuka is pretty sweet.
240820-N-CV021-1063 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Aug. 20, 2024) The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), returns to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 20, after completing a two-and-a-half month scheduled patrol around the Indo-Pacific region. The Blue Ridge is the oldest operational ship in the Navy and routinely operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandria Esteban)