U.S.C.G. BLACKTHORN Tampa

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn, Hull # WLB 391, was built at Marine Iron & Shipbuilding Corp. Duluth, Minnesota, on May 21, 1943. She was launched on July 20, 1943, and commissioned on March 27, 1944. She was 180 feet long, had a 37 foot beam and was pushed by a single screw. The Blackthorn's cruising speed was ten knots and her maximum speed was 13.5 knots. Her complement consisted of three officers, two warrants and 42 crew. 

In January of 1980, the Blackthorn was in a collision with the tanker Capricorn at the mouth of Tampa. A total of 23 of the Blackthorn's Coast Guard crew were killed in the accident. The Blackthorn's damaged hull was towed into 80 feet of water and sunk on January 28, 1980, in an area known as Pinellas County Artificial Reef # 2 as a dive site and artificial reef. Divers will reach the top of this wreck at 30 feet. She is usually covered with a blanket of bait fish.

Photo: The Blackthon's cruising speed was ten knots and her maximum speed
was 13.5 knots. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard.