USCG 83413 Escort to Duke & Duchess of Windsor 29 June 1943 –
83-foot US sub chaser commanded by Edward du Moulin escorts GEMINI from Miami to Nassau but ends up diverting to rescue the crew of USN SC 1330 in a storm at night (Du Moulin wrote that it was 27th June):
The USS SC-1330 collided with the CG-83421, an 83 foot Coast Guard cutter, at 2336, June 29, 1943, in a position approximately seven miles north of Great Isaac Light at 26°14’N, 79°05’W, while both vessels were part of the escort of the SS Jean Brilliant en route from Miami, Florida to Nassau, B.W.I. Twenty two minutes before the collision the SS Jean Brilliant had changed her course from 078° to 120° T before passing through the point designated for turning on the routing instructions previously handed to all five escorts. All vessels were darked out. Twelve minutes later the SC-1330 changed course to 101° T. Sometime between 22 and 4 minutes before the collision the CG-83421 had changed course to 100° T. Four minutes before the collision she changed to 000° T.
When sighted, the SC-1330 was only 35 yards distant. The CG-83421 swung left and the SC-1330 stopped engines and backed but did not avoid striking the port quarter of the CG-83421 about 3 feet abaft of the after engine room hatch. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USCG/VIII-LostCutters/index.html#83421 As a result of the collision the stern of the CG-83421 had two water-tight compartments at the stern carried away, but remained afloat due to the remaining watertight compartments, though its watertight integrity was impaired. The crew was accordingly taken off and the vessel taken in tow by the SC-1330. After being in tow for about two hours, the CG-83421 sank in deep water and the tow line was cut. There was no loss of life nor serious injury to personnel. The commanding officer of the CG-83421, Ensign Lawrence E. Gallagher, USCGR, was exonerated of the charge of neglect of duty.
USS SC-1330 collided with the CG-83421, an 83 foot Coast Guard cutter, at 2336, June 29, 1943, in a position approximately seven miles north of Great Isaac Light at 26°14’N, 79°05’W, while both vessels were part of the escort of the SS Jean Brilliant en route from Miami, Florida to Nassau, B.W.I. As a result of the collision the stern of the CG 83421 had two water-tight compartments at the stern carried away, but remained afloat due to the remaining watertight compartments, though its watertight integrity was impaired. The crew was accordingly taken off and the vessel taken in tow by the SC-1330. After being in tow for about two hours, the CG-83421 sank in deep water and the tow line was cut. There was no loss of life nor serious injury to personnel. The commanding officer of the CG-83421, Ensign Lawrence E. Gallagher, USCGR, was exonerated of the charge of neglect of duty. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USCG/VIII-LostCutters/index.html#83421 See also: “another 83-foot USCG SC is rammed by a Navy 110-foot patrol craft and sunk.
Survivors picked up off Great Isaac’s light Bahamas by CG-83413 (du Moulin), sister ship (du Moulin pp64-66)” Twenty two minutes before the collision the SS Jean Brilliant had changed her course from 078° to 120° T before passing through the point designated for turning on the routing instructions previously handed to all five escorts. All vessels were darked out. Twelve minutes later the SC-1330 changed course to 101° T. Sometime between 22 and 4 minutes before the collision the CG-83421 had changed course to 100° T. Four minutes before the collision she changed to 000° T. When sighted, the SC-1330 was only 35 yards distant. The CG-83421 swung left and the SC-1330 stopped engines and backed but did not avoid striking the port quarter of the CG-83421 about 3 feet abaft of the after engine room hatch. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USCG/VIII-LostCutters/index.html#83421