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Section Patrol Craft Photo Archive

USCGC EM Messick (WYP 358)
ex-USS W. L. Messick (SP 322)



Call sign (1919):
George - Sail - Quack - Tare

Call sign (1926):
Love - Boy - Watch - Quack

Call sign (1948):
King - Love - Charlie - Dog


W. L. Messick served both the U. S. Navy and Coast Guard

Trawler/Minesweeper:

  • Built in 1911 by Smith and McCoy, Norfolk, VA
  • Acquired by the Navy 7 April 1917 and commissioned USS W. L. Messick (SP 322) the same day
  • Decommissioned 27 August 1919 and sold to her previous owner
  • Registered in 1926 to The Edwards Co. of Reedville, VA as the fishing vessel W. L. Messick
  • Acquired by the Coast Guard and commissioned USCGC EM Messick (WYP 358), 24 June 1943 (The EM in front of the name stood for Emergency Manning)
  • Assigned to the Caribbean Sea Frontier and stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Decommissioned 2 March 1944
  • Returned to her owner 13 March 1944
  • Registered in 1948 to Menhaden Products Co. of White Stone, VA as the fishing boat W. L. Messick
  • Fate unknown.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 237 t.
    1926 - 291 t.
    1948 - 326 t.
  • Length 145'
    1926 - 131' 8"
  • Beam 23'
    1926 - 23' 5"
  • Draft 9'
    1926 - 12' 5"
  • Complement 33
    1926 - 30
  • Armament: One 6-pounder
    1943 - One 20mm mount and two Mousetrap depth charge projectors
  • Propulsion: One single ended boiler, one 2,200hp vertical compound steam engine, one shaft
    Later one 600bhp diesel engine.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    W. L. Messick 81k Probably photographed at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, circa 1917. A six-pounder gun is mounted on her foredeck. Another converted "Menhaden Fisherman" patrol and minesweeping vessel is in the background
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 89760    		 Robert Hurst
    View the W. L. Messick (SP 322)
    DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command website
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