USCGC Cape Upright was United States Coast Guard steel-hulled patrol boat of the 95-Foot or Cape class.

History
United States
NameUSCGC Cape Upright (WPB-95303)
OwnerUnited States Coast Guard
OperatorUnited States Coast Guard
BuilderCoast Guard Yard
Commissioned2 July 1953[1]
Decommissioned6 January 1989
Homeport
Nickname(s)
  • Cape Up All Night
  • Cape Uptight
  • Cape Downright
FateTransferred to Bahamas, 10 June 1989
The Bahamas
NameHMBS David Tucker (P07)
OwnerRoyal Bahamas Defence Force
OperatorRoyal Bahamas Defence Force
Acquired10 June 1989
Decommissioned1996 [2]
FateSunk in 1997 as an artificial reef
General characteristics
Class and typeCape class
Displacement102 long tons (114 short tons)
Length
  • 90 ft (27 m) waterline
  • 95 ft (29 m) overall
Beam20 ft (6.1 m) max
Draft6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 Cummins VT-600 diesels
  • 2 Detroit 16V149 diesels (renovated)
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h)
  • 24 knots (44 km/h) (renovated)
Range1,418 nautical miles (2,626 km; 1,632 mi)
Complement15
Armament
  • 2 mousetraps
  • 2 depth charge racks
  • 2 20mm (twin)
  • 2 .50-caliber machine guns
  • 2 12.7mm machine guns
  • 2 40mm Mk 64 grenade launchers

Service

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  • 1953: From here stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, to 1960 and was used for law enforcement (LE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
  • 1961: From here to 1969, stationed at Southport, North Carolina where she was again used for LE and participated in many SAR operations. Cape Upright participated in the recovery of a U.S. Navy seaman's body whose helicopter crashed off Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower in January 1967. Three crew members were recovered alive and another went down with the helicopter[3]
  • 29 April 1969, medevaced a crewman from F/V Thalia.
  • 28 July 1969: towed the disabled schooner Chauve Souris 19 miles west of Frying Pan Light Tower to Southport, NC.
  • 24 December 1969: towed the disabled F/V Dream One 45 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
  • 1970: From here to 1973, was stationed at Wrightsville Beach, NC, being used again for LE and SAR operations.
  • 31 July 1970, towed the disabled sailboat Pandora 35 miles southeast of Cape Fear to Wrightsville Beach.
  • 1974: From here to 1976, was held for transfer to Lebanon under the Military Assistance Program.
  • 1976-1977: underwent major renovation at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland.
  • 1978 to 1989: was stationed at Savannah, Georgia, and was used for LE and SAR operations.
  • 10 September 1982: helped seize M/V Mont Boron, which was suspected of drug smuggling off Florida.
  • 28 November 1982: seized the Cayman Island vessel Largo Izabel carrying 30 tons of marijuana after stopping her with gunfire.
  • 18 November 1986: seized a speedboat in the Straits of Florida with marijuana on board.
  • 21 November 1986: seized M/V Don Yeyo 120 miles east of Miami, Florida, carrying 12 tons of marijuana.[1]

Transfer

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Cape Upright was transferred to The Bahamas 10 June 1989 and renamed David Tucker (P07).

Decommissioning

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David Tucker (P07) was decommissioned in 1996 and donated to be sunk as an artificial reef in 1997 as part of Nassau's artificial reef program. A popular dive spot; it is located along an area known as Clifton Wall.

References

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  1. ^ a b "CAPE UPRIGHT, 1953". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  2. ^ Barroux, Jean Charles. "Bahamas - Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) - Coast Guard". Latin American Military. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  3. ^ "Sign In - Coast Guard Community".