USCGC Cape Upright (WPB-95303)

History
United States
Name:	USCGC Cape Upright (WPB-95303)
Owner:	United States Coast Guard
Operator:	United States Coast Guard
Builder:	Coast Guard Yard
Commissioned:	2 July 1953[1]
Decommissioned:	6 January 1989
Homeport:	1953 – 60: Norfolk, Virginia 1961 – 69: Southport, North Carolina 1970 – 73: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 1976 – 77: Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland 1978 – 89: Savannah, Georgia
Nickname(s):	Cape Up All Night Cape Uptight Cape Downright
Fate:	Transferred to Bahamas, 10 June 1989
The Bahamas
Name:	HMBS David Tucker (P07)
Owner:	Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Operator:	Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Acquired:	10 June 1989
Decommissioned:	1996 [2]
Fate:	Sunk in 1997 as an artificial reef
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cape class
Displacement:	102 long tons (114 short tons)
Length:	90 ft (27 m) waterline 95 ft (29 m) overall
Beam:	20 ft (6.1 m) max
Draft:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Propulsion:	4 Cummins VT-600 diesels 2 Detroit 16V149 diesels (renovated)
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h) 24 knots (44 km/h) (renovated)
Range:	1,418 nautical miles (2,626 km; 1,632 mi)
Complement:	15
Armament:	2 mousetraps 2 depth charge racks 2 20mm (twin) 2 .50-caliber machine guns 2 12.7mm machine guns 2 40mm Mk 64 grenade launchers

USCGC Cape Upright was United States Coast Guard steel-hulled patrol boat of the 95-Foot or Cape class.

Service

• 1953: From here stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, to 1960 and was used for law enforcement (LE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
• 1961: From here to 1969, stationed at Southport, North Carolina where she was again used for LE and participated in many SAR operations.

  The Cape Upright participated in the recovery of a Navy Seaman body who's helicopter went down off Frying Pans Shoals Light Tower in January 1967. 
  Three crew members  were recovered alive and another went down with the Helo.[3]

• 29 April 1969, medevaced a crewman from F/V Thalia.
• 28 July 1969: towed the disabled schooner Chauve Souris 19 miles west of Frying Pan Light Tower to Southport, NC.
• 24 December 1969: towed the disabled F/V Dream One 45 miles east of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
• 1970: From here to 1973, was stationed at Wrightsville Beach, NC, being used again for LE and SAR operations.
• 31 July 1970, towed the disabled sailboat Pandora 35 miles southeast of Cape Fear to Wrightsville Beach.
• 1974: From here to 1976, was held for transfer to Lebanon under the Military Assistance Program.
• 1976-1977: underwent major renovation at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland.
• 1978 to 1989: was stationed at Savannah, Georgia, and was used for LE and SAR operations.
• 10 September 1982: helped seize M/V Mont Boron, which was suspected of drug smuggling off Florida.
• 28 November 1982: seized the Cayman Island vessel Largo Izabel carrying 30 tons of marijuana after stopping her with gunfire.
• 18 November 1986: seized a speedboat in the Straits of Florida with marijuana on board.
• 21 November 1986: seized M/V Don Yeyo 120 miles east of Miami, Florida, carrying 12 tons of marijuana.^[1]

Transfer

Cape Upright was transferred to The Bahamas 10 June 1989 and renamed David Tucker (P07).

Decommissioning

David Tucker (P07) was decommissioned in 1996 and donated to be sunk as an artificial reef in 1997 as part of Nassau's artificial reef program. A popular dive spot; it is located along an area known as Clifton Wall.

References

1. "CAPE UPRIGHT, 1953". U.S. Coast Guard Cutter History. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
2. Barroux, Jean Charles. "Bahamas - Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) - Coast Guard". Latin American Military. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
3. http://community.coastguardchannel.com/group/95wpbsailors?commentId=1015216%3AComment%3A786904&xg_source=msg_com_group