Cape Jellison History

Cape Class History

The 95-foot or Cape class was an outgrowth of a need for shallow-draft anti-submarine-warfare (ASW) craft brought on by the increasing tensions during the years immediately following World War II.

During the period of construction, three distinctive sub-classes evolved as the Coast Guard’s mission emphasis shifted from ASW to search and rescue (SAR), The A Type 95-footer was outfitted primarily for ASW. The B Type differed by mounting a 40 mm vice 20 mm gun and being fitted with scramble nets, a towing bit, and a large searchlight – all important SAR tools. The C Type units were constructed without the heavy armament and for economy some of the SAR equipment was also deleted. However, the Coast Guard added these SAR items to both the As and Cs during various refits. A renovation program began in the mid-1970s but was ended, due to increasing expenses and a shortage of funds, after 16 boats had been overhauled.

The 95-footers were designed by the Coast Guard with steel hulls and superstructures of aluminum. These cutters remained unnamed until January of 1964.

Coast Guard history:

The Cape Jellison, a Cape Class Cutter, type B, was commissioned September 7, 1955 after being built at the US Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland.

The Cape Jellison was stationed at San Diego, CA, from 1956 to 1973. She was used for law enforcement (LE) and SAR. On 24 June 1969, she helped rescue five from a grounded pleasure craft on North Coronado Island. On 19 July 1969, she rescued all aboard the pleasure craft El Gusto north of North Coronado Island. On 3 October 1969, after a chase, a boarding party boarded a craft off San Diego and confiscated marijuana and other contraband. On 5 October 1969, she recovered 200 lbs. of marijuana that had been intentionally dropped off 20 miles south of San Diego. On 8 July 1970, she refloated the sailboat Siestar aground near La Mission, Mexico. On 16 July 1970, she towed a disabled 18-foot pleasure craft to San Diego. Three days later, she towed another disabled pleasure craft, the Cleff, from Rosarita Beach to San Diego. On 9 August 1970, she dewatered the pleasure craft Dowager Jones off Shelter Island. The Cape Jellison was stationed at Seward, AK, from 1973 to 18 November 1986. She was used for LE and SAR.  On 7 December 1982, she towed F/V Kathy Joanne from Pilot Rock to Seward during a storm.