USCG Southwind

USCGC Southwind (WAGB-280) was a Wind-class icebreaker commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1944 during World War II. Initially serving in the Arctic and North Atlantic, Southwind played a crucial role in escorting convoys, breaking ice, and conducting resupply missions to remote bases. In 1945, she was transferred to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease and renamed Admiral Makarov, before returning to U.S. service in 1949. Throughout the Cold War, Southwind continued to operate in polar regions, supporting scientific research and military operations until her decommissioning in 1974.