USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390)

• Commissioning and Class: USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390) was a Cactus-class 180-foot seagoing buoy tender, commissioned by the United States Coast Guard on 17 July 1944. • World War II Service: Blackhaw was built during World War II and played a key role in maintaining navigational aids and supporting wartime operations in the Pacific. • Construction Site: She was constructed at Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company in Duluth, Minnesota, an inland shipyard far from the ocean, and then sailed down the Mississippi River to the sea. • Early Assignments: After commissioning, Blackhaw was initially assigned to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she tended buoys and performed search and rescue missions in the Pacific Ocean. • Postwar Operations: She continued her duties in the Pacific after WWII, including supporting the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads in 1946. • Homeport Changes: Over her career, Blackhaw was homeported in various locations, including Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, California; and eventually Apra Harbor, Guam. • Vietnam War Involvement: During the Vietnam War, Blackhaw provided logistics and buoy maintenance support, helping to guide naval and merchant vessels in the region. • Hurricane Relief: The vessel participated in disaster relief operations, including hurricane response missions, highlighting the Coast Guard’s multi-mission role. • Decommissioning: After nearly 50 years of service, Blackhaw was decommissioned on 15 February 1993, marking the end of an era for the Cactus-class tenders. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, the USCGC Blackhaw was transferred to the Nigerian Navy, where she continued her service under a new flag.