Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945

WAG-280 USS Southwind

• Wind class Miscellaneous Auxiliary: Icebreaker:
• Displacement: 6,515 tons
• Length: 269'
• Beam: 63'6"
• Draft: 25'9"
• Speed: 16.8 knots
• Armament: 2x2 5"/38, 4x3 40mm, 6 20mm, 2 dc tracks, 6 Y-guns, 1 hedgehog
• Complement: 21 officers, 295 enlisted
• Diesel-electric machinery; 10,000 HP; 3 screws (2 aft/1 forward)
• Built at Western Pipe & Steel, San Pedro, Cal., and commissioned 15 July 1944

Additional Links:

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• For additional photos, see the Main Page.
• For crew lists, and reunions see the Veterans Info Page.
• For ship's logs and personnel records, see the Reference Page.

From 1944-1945, Southwind was assigned to CINCLANT, stationed at Boston, Mass. and operated in Greenland waters throughout WWII. On 15 Oct 44, supporting Eastwind (WAG-279), captured German weather ship Externsteine off Cape Borgen, Shannon Island, Greenland, with 17 prisoners. The Externsteine was taken to Boston by a prize crew: KM Externsteine Transferred to USSR, 23 March 1945.

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