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USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

38 members•1 unit

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U.S. Coast Guard

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About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303) was an Island-class patrol boat commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1986. Built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana, she was designed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions. Throughout her service, Matagorda operated primarily in coastal waters, performing drug interdiction, migrant operations, and fisheries enforcement. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned and eventually transferred to a foreign navy as part of a security assistance program.

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

Class and Designation: USCGC Matagorda (WPB-1303) was an Island-class patrol boat, part of a series of 49 cutters built for the United States Coast Guard.
Launch and Commission: Matagorda was commissioned in 1986, making her one of the earlier vessels in the Island-class fleet.
Name Origin: The cutter was named after Matagorda Island off the coast of Texas, following USCG tradition of naming these cutters after U.S. islands.
Missions: She was primarily tasked with law enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, and migrant interdiction.
Technical Details: The cutter was 110 feet long, could reach speeds of 29.5 knots, and had a crew of 16.
Homeport: USCGC Matagorda was homeported at Miami Beach, Florida for much of her career, operating in the busy and challenging Caribbean region.
Notable Operations: Matagorda participated in Operation Able Vigil (1994), responding to a mass exodus of Cuban rafters and rescuing thousands of migrants.
Deepwater Program: Matagorda was one of eight Island-class cutters selected for the failed Deepwater modernization program, which attempted to extend the hull and add a stern launching ramp.
Hull Problems: After the Deepwater conversion, hull cracks and structural issues were discovered, leading to the cutter’s decommissioning in 2006.
Final Fate: USCGC Matagorda was disposed of due to irreparable damage from the failed modifications, becoming a cautionary example in naval procurement history.

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USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

38 members•1 unit

USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303) Homepage Photos Members

Relive and share the memories of your service-time with your brothers and sisters in arms today. VetFriends.com can help you reconnect.

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Are you looking for someone who is or was in the USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)?

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Branch

U.S. Coast Guard

Members

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

Class and Designation: USCGC Matagorda (WPB-1303) was an Island-class patrol boat, part of a series of 49 cutters built for the United States Coast Guard.
Launch and Commission: Matagorda was commissioned in 1986, making her one of the earlier vessels in the Island-class fleet.
Name Origin: The cutter was named after Matagorda Island off the coast of Texas, following USCG tradition of naming these cutters after U.S. islands.
Missions: She was primarily tasked with law enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, and migrant interdiction.
Technical Details: The cutter was 110 feet long, could reach speeds of 29.5 knots, and had a crew of 16.
Homeport: USCGC Matagorda was homeported at Miami Beach, Florida for much of her career, operating in the busy and challenging Caribbean region.
Notable Operations: Matagorda participated in Operation Able Vigil (1994), responding to a mass exodus of Cuban rafters and rescuing thousands of migrants.
Deepwater Program: Matagorda was one of eight Island-class cutters selected for the failed Deepwater modernization program, which attempted to extend the hull and add a stern launching ramp.
Hull Problems: After the Deepwater conversion, hull cracks and structural issues were discovered, leading to the cutter’s decommissioning in 2006.
Final Fate: USCGC Matagorda was disposed of due to irreparable damage from the failed modifications, becoming a cautionary example in naval procurement history.

USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303)

About this Unit

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Photos

Boot Camp Graduation 12/74

Neiland Diez

USCG Station San Francisco, CA