View source for USCGC Point Herron

{{Short description|United States Coast Guard cutter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
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{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country             =United States
| Ship flag                ={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
| Ship name                =USCGC ''Point Herron'' (WPB-82318)
| Ship owner               =United States Coast Guard
| Ship namesake            =Point Herron, [[Kitsap County, Washington]]
| Ship ordered             =
| Ship builder             =Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland
| Ship laid down           =10 August 1960<ref name=Scheina69>Scheina, p 69</ref>
| Ship launched            =
| Ship acquired            =
| Ship commissioned        =14 June 1961<ref name=Scheina69>Scheina, p 69</ref>
| Ship decommissioned      =27 July 1991<ref name="USCG">[http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Point_Class_WPB_Index.asp Coast Guard Historian website]</ref>
| Ship in service          =
| Ship out of service      =
| Ship struck              =
| Ship reinstated          =
| Ship honors              =
| Ship fate                =Transferred to Mexico<ref name="USCG" />
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Ship type                =Patrol Boat (WPB)
| Ship displacement        =60 tons
| Ship length              ={{convert|82|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam                ={{convert|17|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}} max
| Ship draught             =
| Ship draft               ={{convert|5|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion          =*1961 • 2 × {{convert|800|hp|0|abbr=on}} [[Cummins]] [[diesel engine]]s
*1990 • 2 × {{convert|800|hp|0|abbr=on}} [[Caterpillar, Inc.|Caterpillar]] diesel engines
| Ship speed               ={{convert|22.9|kn|lk=on}}
| Ship range               =*{{convert|542|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn|abbr=on}}
*{{convert|1500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|9.4|kn|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement          =Domestic service : 8 men
| Ship sensors             =
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| Ship armament            =1961 • 1 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]<ref name="USCG" />
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'''USCGC ''Point Herron'' (WPB-82318)''' was an {{convert|82|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Point class cutter]] constructed at the [[United States Coast Guard Yard|Coast Guard Yard]] at [[Curtis Bay, Maryland]] in 1961 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat. Since the Coast Guard policy in 1961 was not to name [[United States Coast Guard Cutter|cutters]] under {{convert|100|ft|m|}} in length, it was designated as ''WPB-82318'' when commissioned and acquired the name ''Point Herron'' in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than {{convert|65|ft|m|}}.<ref name="USCG" /><ref name=Scheina72>Scheina, p 72</ref>

==Design and construction details==
''Point Herron'' was built to accommodate an 8-man crew.<ref name=Scheina71>Scheina, p 71</ref> She was the first in class to be powered by two {{convert|800|hp|0|abbr=on}} VT800 [[Cummins]] diesel main drive engines and had two five-bladed {{convert|42|inch|m|abbr=on}} propellers. Water tank capacity was {{convert|1550|gal|liters|}} and fuel tank capacity was {{convert|1840|gal|liters|}} at 95% full.<ref name="USCG" /><ref name=Scheina71>Scheina, p 71</ref> After 1990 she was refit with {{convert|800|hp|0|abbr=on}} [[Caterpillar, Inc.|Caterpillar]] diesel main drive engines.<ref name="USCG" /> Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360-degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.<ref name=Scotti165>Scotti, p 165</ref>

The design specifications for ''Point Herron'' included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight. Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non-manned main drive engine spaces. Controls and alarms located on the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer [[Watch system|watch]] in the engine room.<ref name=Scotti165>Scotti, p 165</ref> Because of design, four men could operate the cutter; however, the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service.<ref name=Scotti165>Scotti, p 165</ref> The [[Propeller|screw]]s were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water. A clutch-in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly.<ref name=Scotti166>Scotti, p 166</ref> Air-conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter. Interior access to the deckhouse was through a [[ship floodability|watertight door]] on the [[starboard side]] aft of the [[deckhouse]]. The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer-in-charge and the executive petty officer.<ref name=Scotti166>Scotti, p 166</ref> The deckhouse also included a small arms locker, [[scuttlebutt]], a small desk and [[Head (watercraft)|head]]. Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder. At the bottom of the ladder was the [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]], [[mess]] and recreation deck. A watertight door at the front of the mess [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]] led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed, three bunks on each side. Forward of the bunks was the crew's head complete with a compact sink, shower and commode.<ref name=Scotti166>Scotti, p 166</ref>

==History==
After delivery in 1961, ''Point Herron'' was assigned a homeport of [[Lewes, Delaware]], where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat until 1964.<ref name="USCG" /> In 1965 she was reassigned to [[Cape May, New Jersey]]. The following year she was transferred to [[Bay Shore, New York]] where she served from 1966 through 1981. From 1982 until decommissioning she was homeported at [[Babylon (town), New York|Babylon, New York]].<ref name="USCG" /><ref name=Scheina74>Scheina, p 74</ref>

On 27 July 1991 ''Point Herron'' was decommissioned and transferred to Mexico, who renamed her '''ARM ''Punto Mastun'' (P 61)'''.

==References==
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
* {{cite book|last=Scheina|first=Robert L.|year=1990|title=U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946–1990|publisher=Naval Institute Press, Annapolis|isbn=978-0-87021-719-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Scotti|first=Paul C.|year=2000|title=Coast Guard Action in Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served|publisher=Hellgate Press, Central Point, OR|isbn=978-1-55571-528-1}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Point_Class_WPB_Index.asp "Point" Class 82-foot WPBs] Coast Guard Historian's website

{{Point class cutter}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Point Herron}}
[[Category:Point-class cutters|Herron]]
[[Category:1961 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by the United States Coast Guard Yard]]
[[Category:Point-class cutters of the Mexican Navy]]