Coast Guard Naval Operations

Coast Guard actions during wartime, highlighting convoy protection, gun crews ready for action, and historical events related to D-Day.

Guarding the Port. Shells that some day will rip Axis planes are loaded into the hold of a merchant ship under the vigilant eyes of the Coast Guardsmen in a busy West Coast seaport. Ports throughout the country are guarded by Coast Guardsmen attached to the service's Port Security Detail against sabotage by enemy agents or accidents resulting from negligence.

The Convoys Go Through. Protected by Coast Guard combat cutters, an Allied convoy pushes through the North Atlantic toward European debarkation and supply ports. Vigilant, aggressive action by fighting Coast Guard craft has figured largely in reducing the war dangers of the supply routes.

Coast Guard Gun Crew Ready For Action. This image depicts 'Old Glory' whipping in the breeze above a U.S. Coast Guard cutter as the gun crew stands alert and ready for action.

Coast Guardsmen Hold Anti-Aircraft Practice. This image depicts Coast Guardsmen holding anti-aircraft practice, with one having fired a shot from his gun.

Coast Guard LCI Goes Down in the Channel. A casualty of the heavy Nazi fire against the D-Day invasion fleet, a Coast Guard LCI, loaded with troops, lists heavily to port before sinking in the English Channel. She had time, however, to pull alongside the Coast Guard assault transport in the distance, and evacuate her troops and wounded before capsizing and going down. The infantry landing craft was fatally hit on a run to the French beach. This picture shows soldiers up on the high rail as the LCI limped to the transport.

Ice Prisoner Freed. This image depicts a boat caught in an ice trap in the upper Mississippi River, an invasion craft is cleared by Coast Guardsmen manning an ice breaker.

Gibraltar a panoramic view from the sea to HMS Argus aircraft carrier and the battleship Rasphuls unknown

Wounded Soldiers Hoisted. Wounded soldiers are hoisted aboard a Coast Guard transport off a Sicilian beach during the invasion of the Italian island by the United Nations.

Guarding the Port. Shells that some day will rip Axis planes are loaded into the hold of a merchant ship under the vigilant eyes of the Coast Guardsmen in a busy West Coast seaport. Ports throughout the country are guarded by Coast Guardsmen attached to the service's Port Security Detail against sabotage by enemy agents or accidents resulting from negligence.

The Light Stays Green For the Atlantic Convoys. Paris is liberated. So is Marseille. Allied victories fill the news, but the unsung, unceasing convoys never stop. Feeding the materiel and supplies that make these victories possible, parades of ships - vigilantly guarded - keep steaming across the North Atlantic. From the deck of a Coast Guard Combat Cutter, here a long procession of loaded cargo vessels stretches along the horizon as it plods to its destination somewhere in the European war theatre.

US Navy personnel trained in firefighting techniques during World War I. The image shows sailors wearing protective gear, learning how to effectively extinguish fires on a simulated ship deck. This training was essential for Navy personnel to respond to emergencies and protect naval vessels from damage.

Signaling Invasion Orders. Intense activity features the signal bridge of a U.S. Coast Guard-manned combat transport as orders are transmitted during an invasion in the Pacific. Troops and supplies are being put ashore. Coast Guardsmen in the foreground are Robert L. Blades, signalman first class, 5853 Andersonville Road, Waterford, Mich., manning the blinker at the left, and Lyle B. Marcus, signalman third class, 3058 West Ainslie St., Chicago, using the semaphore flags.

U.S. Army Quartermaster Tug, unidentifiable with the given number 61439, photographed by the Signal Corps. Photo recommendation made on March 10, 1921. The description indicates that it is a symbol issued for use by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Tug, but the exact identification is unknown. Additional notes mention 961439 C 1.

View from the bow of a U.S. battleship destroyer during World War One. The photograph, taken by a photographer identified as RECO, shows the view ahead from the ship's bow. The image was assigned the symbol AU and issued as 111-SC-6818. The accompanying notes mention the number 06812 in relation to the photo.

Trucks and Ambulances Headed for France. Rolling stock for invasion, including trucks, jeeps and ambulances, ride the top tank deck of a Coast Guard LST (Landing Ship, Tanks) on the D-Day Invasion sweep across The English Channel to the Norman Coast Beachhead. The heavy mechanized equipment followed close in the wake of the landing barges from which troops cleared the beaches.

This photograph shows a gun mounted on a transport vessel as protection against German submarines during World War One. It is part of the collection numbered 50,331 from the Signal Corps, with the description provided by photographer Reco. The photo was taken and issued for official use.

A Duck Takes Off For Iwo's Battle Beach. This image depicts a Duck carrying Marines to the flaming shore of Iwo Jima.

Destination -- A Prison Ship. Jap prisoners, rounded up in the conquest of Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands, huddle on the deck of a Coast Guard-manned landing craft, awaiting transfer to a prison ship at anchor off the invasion beach.

Photograph of the SS War Soldier. Photograph Of S: S. War Soldier. November 9 1918. Nationality: British. Tonnage: 7541, Length: 461' Beam: 58'6" Draft: 26'6". Captain: W. Burdon. Owners: Furness Line. Where From: Tocapila, Chili Tocopilla, Chile. Destination: United Kingdom. Where Photographed: Charleston S. C. Sixth Naval District. By Whom Photographed: J. B. Dearborn. Date: 10/23/18. TIme 1:30 P.M. Where Camouflaged: Glasgow Scotland. Date: Aug 1918. By Whom Camouflaged: By Orders Of The British Admirality Admiralty. Type Of Ship: Well Deck: Color Numbers: #3 Olive, Black, White, #2 Gray & BG. Two Masts: Foremast White, Aftmast Black & #2 Gray. One Smokestack: #3 Olive, Black & Bluegray. Four Guns: -1-4 Point 7; 1-12 Pounder; 2-7 Point 5 Howitzers. Four Otters.. 1918-10-23T00:00:00.

U.S.S. Jarvis, an American warship, is seen in this photograph taken during World War One by a photographer from the Signal Corps. The photograph was taken on March 10, 1921.

Bombardment of Fort San Antonio, August 13, 1898, during Spanish American War

Coast Guardsmen Searching For Raiders. This image depicts a Coast Guard cutter scanning the outwardly peaceful North Atlantic, looking for enemy raiders which might be waiting to attack.

Invaders Disgorged Through Bow. Hitherto kept secret, the open doors of an LST (Landing Ship, Tanks) are shown in this photograph by a U.S. Coast Guard Combat Photographer. Picture was taken at Paestum, south of Salerno, and shows bulldozers, amphibious "ducks trucks", and other heavy equipment being unloaded. The opening bow doors are probably the most revolutionary development in amphibious operations in this war. Coast Guardsmen and Navy personnel man LST's and other landing craft.

"Duck" Fouled Up By Iwo Surf. This image depicts beach parties attempting to square away two "Ducks" battered by the combers and rapidly filling with water on the Blackened sands of the volcanic island fortress.

Coast Guard-manned Landing Craft. This image depicts artwork of a Coast Guard-manned landing craft, drawn by Coast Guard Combat Artist Bruno Figallo.

American Ammunition Dumb Goes Up On Two. This image depicts an American ammunition dump blown skyward, as Coast Guard-manned and Navy LST's move in and out from the embattled beach to disgorge man and supplies.

American patrol boats docked at the boat landing in Remagen on the Rhine River in Neuwied, Germany. The photo was taken on January 11, 1919, and shows the American flag proudly flying in the background. (Photo credit: Pvt. Antrim, U.S. Signal Corps)

Group of soldiers returning home on a troopship, as seen from the deck of another ship. The troopship is loaded with returning veterans and is travelling up the North River. This photograph was taken on December 26, 1918, and passed through military censorship on December 28, 1918.

Army Ducks Storm Aitape. This image depicts low-riding Army ducks, loaded with troops, churning from a Coast Guard-manned assault transport toward the beaches of Aitape in the invasion of Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea.

Waves -- Of Fighters -- Hit Aitape Beach. This image depicts a Coast Guard landing craft dash in on the surf with troops and supplies during the invasion of Aitape Beach in the Hollandia area of Dutch New Guinea.

Training for Invasion. This image depicts Coast Guardsmen manning the gun of a Coast Guard-manned LCT during training.

Description: General views photographed by Herr Ing. Robert Deutsch, presented to His Majesty's Government through His Majesty's Legation at Vienna and received in Colonial Office 6 August 1931 Location: Hodeida, Yemen Date: 1931

Enemy Beaches Are Bought With Casualties. This image depicts a casualty being hoisted up from an invasion craft after the battle of Guam.

Navy Signal Corps Reed recording U.S. Navy activities during World War One. This photograph, numbered 43,562, was captured to document the actions of the Navy. The image shows personnel engaged in their duties at a Navy facility.

Fotocollectie Eerste Wereldoorlog. With the British navy in war time. Bringing torpedo back to a destroyer after a practice run. 1914-1918}

Cutter Sinks Sub and Saves Crew. This image depicts captured German sailors aboard a Coast Guard cutter after their submarine was sunk.

Coast Guard Hits Greenland Coast. This image depicts a landing party leave its small boat to hit the rocky coast of western Greenland.

Battle Drill. This image depicts battle drills held aboard Coast Guard convoy cutters while shepherding a convoy of men and materials.

The U.S. ships Leviathan and Imperator can be seen in the Hudson River in this photograph. The U.S.S. Leviathan is leaving Pier #4 in Hoboken, N.J. on its way to Brest, France. The image was taken on July 12, 1919, by Sergeant Steiniger. Source: Photographs of American Military Activities during World War One.

Coast Guard Helicopter Rescues Sailors. This image depicts a Coast Guard helicopter rescuing sailors from the vessel HATTIE D.

Coast Guard Brings Tanks to Noemfoor Island. Tanks crawl from the open jaws of Coast Guard-manned LSTs to the beach of Noemfoor Island and rumble off immediately for the front lines where American invaders are engaged in wresting another Jap bastion in Dutch New Guinea from Jap domination. The bulldozer nose on lead tank is used in burying enemy pillboxes and emplacements.

Boatload of Algerians arriving at Coblens, Germany in 1919 to join the American Forces of the Army of Occupation. The photograph shows Fortress Ehrenbreitstein in the background on hill 50677. This image was taken by a photographer from the Signal Corps in December 1918.

LCI Invasion Craft. This image depicts an LCI invasion craft silhouetted against the sea off the East Coast, photographed from a U.S. Coast Guard plane.

Photograph of the Fore Side of the Bridge of the SS Astrakhan. Photograph Of Fore Side Of Bridge. November 22 1918. Photograph Of S. S. Astrakhan. Nationality: British. Tonnage: 3438. Captain: A. T. Jones. Owners: H. E. Moss. 18 Chapel St. Liverpool Eng. Where From: New York. Destination: Beaumont Texas. Where Photographed: Charleston S. C. Sixth Naval District. By Whom Photographed: J. B. Dearborn. Date: October 29th., 1918. Where Camouflaged: Queenstown Ireland. Date: May 31st., 1918. By Whom Camouflaged: By Orders Of The British Admirality Admiralty.. 1918-10-29T00:00:00.

Loading Up. This image depicts Coast Guardsmen loading a depth charge into position as their Coast Guard cutter sweeps the Pacific.

Coast Guard Helicopter Rescues Sailor. This image depicts the rescue of the Danish sailor Ole Forchhammer from the S.S. PAULA DAN near Cape Cod Canal.

The Dangerous Job of Mine-Laying. 1942 - 1945. Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. 3/9/1943-9/15/1945. World War II Foreign Posters

USS Lawrence, photographed during World War One. The image is numbered 111-SC-7067, with the subject being the Lawrence and the photographer being unknown. The photograph was received from C.P.I and is labeled for official use only.

Battle for a Pacific Beach. This image depicts artwork of American soldiers leaving a Coast Guard-manned LST during the invasion of Saipan, drawn by Coast Guard Combat Artist Jack B. Gildersleeve.

Photograph of Japanese Dive Bomber Attacking the USS Callaway. Jap Dive Bomber Attacks USS Callaway. The USS Callaway, a Coast Guard-manned invasion transport, throws up a barrage of ack ack as a Jap dive bomber attacks her off the coast of Luzon. The ship suffered a direct bomb hit immediately forward of the stack. Nearly 50 of the Coast Guard crew were casualties. The Callaway continued on to unload troops on the Luzon beachhead, patched her wounds, and soon was made ready for new action against the Japs. Luzon was the Callaway's sixth amphibious invasion operation.

Depth Charges. This image depicts depth charge explosions on a ship.

The Wounded Come Out from Saipan. This image depicts artwork of various Coast Guard-manned vessels as they transport wounded personnel off of Saipan, drawn by Coast Guard Combat Artist Omar G. Dawson.

Stars and Stripes Guard the Ship Lanes. From the mast of a destroyer escort, a Coast Guard combat photographer makes this striking picture of the Stars and Stripes challenging all enemies who would intrude upon the Allied ship lanes of the Atlantic. Below is the deck of the Coast Guard destroyer escort and stretching back is the zig zag wake of the intrepid fighting craft as it carries on its duty of safeguarding a convoy.

German and French combat aircraft in a field, Anonymous, 1915 - 1918 photograph Germany (possibly) baryta paper gelatin silver print air force. aircraft, aeroplane Germany

Coast Guard Photographer "Captures" Invasion Fireworks. From the deck of a Coast Guard manned transport, Coast Guard photographer captured these shots of an American cargo ship hit by Nazi dive bombers in an air raid on a convoy in the invasion of Sicily. Fire, started by bombs dropped amidships, spread rapidly to the ship's munitions supply, which exploded to form dangerous though picturesque patterns across the Mediterranean.

Picture of two warships at sea, one of them believed to be HMS Pegasus, sunk in September 1914. Original manuscript caption: H.M.S. Pegasus sunk in Zanzibar Habour sic by German cruiser "Konigsberg.".

The Rising Sun Sets at Eniwetok. After wiping out the Jap defenders of Engebi Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Coast Guardsmen and Marines bring back a bullet-torn Jap battle flag, captured in the invasion. Here they pull along side a Coast Guard-manned transport in a landing barge and make ready to climb up the landing net. They brought out Jap flags and guns as souvenirs of the conquest.

Photo collection First World War. Overhauling a Suspicious Sailing Craft in Suspected Areas Along The Coast for Petrol .. 1914-1918}

Photo collection First World War. With the British Navy in War Time. Battleship Taking a Destroyer in Tow. 1914-1918}

Photo collection First World War. Man in diver suit at a half sunken ship. undated

Soldiers on board the "Princess Matoika" ship as it returns to America with over 3,000 troops aboard, captured in St. Nazaire, France. This photograph was taken on March 1, 1919.

Photograph of Japanese Soldiers Surrendering to Coast Guard at Kwajalein. Four Coast Guardsmen Capture Nine Japs at Kwajalein. Two of nine Japs, captured on a sand spit off Namur Island at Kwajalein, crawl hand over hand along a line through a heavy surf to a Coast Guard-manned landing craft after they had been routed from their off-shore hideout. The four Coast Guardsmen came upon the Japs after their craft had become stranded near the sand spit. The Nips raised their hands when they faced two machine guns.

Pvt. C.D. Donnelly aboard the U.S.A.T. "Steuben" in Brest, France during World War One. The photograph was taken on June 28, 1918 and released by the M.I.B. censor on July 2, 1918. The photographer's number is 134-30 and the description is enclosed as 111-SC-13430.

Coast Guard Academy Cadets Return from Practice Cruise. The poop deck of the Coast Guard training ship EAGLE where cadets from the Coast Guard Academy stood watches and officers conned the ship on her recent practice cruise to southern waters.

SS-297 USS LING-Built by NYBos from hull built by Cramp Shipbuilding Co. Completed June 1944 , Submarines. Photographs of the First Naval District

View of the remains of the "Warren Sawyer" in the surf. 1850 - 1930. still image. Stereographs, Photographs. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection. Massachusetts, Nantucket (Mass.), Shipwrecks

Rolling The Drums at Biak. From Coast Guard-manned LST, Negro troops roll out the barrels of oil for American planse and mechanized land equipment on the beach of Biak Island off the northwest coast of Dutch New Guinea. At Biak, American invaders captured three Jap air strips for use in clamping tighter the ring about Japan's strangling sea empire.

K14 Salvage After Crash at Sea, South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Administrative History of the First Naval District in World War II

Albania trip Archduke Max, warships in the Bocce di Cattaro. .

U.S.S. Alabama in New York City during World War One. The photograph was taken on February 12, 1918. The U.S.S. Alabama is visible, docked in the harbor. The image showcases the military activities of the American forces during the war.

AO-123 , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Arrival LCI from European Invasions at Lawley's ship yard , Government vessels, Lawley's Ship Yard. Photographs of the First Naval District

Coast Guard Invaders. This image depicts Army men clambering down the side of their transport into Coast Guard-manned landing barges waiting to take them ashore somewhere in the southwest Pacific theater.

Lieut. George Lyon supervises the loading of mail onto Army transports for soldiers overseas during World War One. This photograph, taken on November 20, 1918, captures the important logistical task of ensuring that mail reaches American military personnel stationed abroad. This image is intended for official use only and not for publication.

Prelude to D-Day. As an invasion convoy heads through the Makassar straits enroute to Balikpapan, Borneo, Australian troops line the deck of a Coast Guard-manned LST in what might well have been their last day of rest and relaxation in the sun for many a long day. Coast Guard-manned LST's carried not only the "Down Under" fighting men but also equipment they would need to put Balikpapan's rich oil fields in working order as soon after the assault as possible.

A U.S. torpedo boat is being repaired at Cramp's Shipyard. The photograph, taken in 1917 by Captain G.K. Dawson, shows the boat undergoing maintenance at the shipyard. The photo was released by the War Department to the Photo Division in January 1918. Laboratory notes indicate that the assigned number for this image is 1872.

Coast Guard in Greenland. Coast Guard gun crews are shown at their stations as their ship heads out for patrol in the shipping lanes off the coast of Greenland.

Mining Second Berg for Thermite Demolition Tests. As men in the two lifeboats from the Ice Patrol's oceanographic vessel Evergreen pay out a detonation cable to the iceberg boarding team, more .. becomes the second stage of the Ice Patrol themite demolition bests in Cape Bonavista Bay, Nfld. The immensity of the white, marble-solid tower of ice, 325 ft. long, with a pinnacle 180 ft. high, chosen as the target, is accentuated by the four tiny figures inching along to a cave between two great horns of the berg. Here they have dragged with the aid of lifelines attached to pistons driving in to the ice, ice .. and crampons (shoe spikes) 364 lbs. of the thermite (13 charges, each 28 lbs.) in metal bones enclosed in protective wooden cases making the total weight 715 lbs. The Coast Guardsmen in the guarding lifeboats are (left) Robert H. Reinheimer, Seaman of 1501 Eleanor St., Pittsburgh, Pa. and William Ledger, Quartermaster first class, of Hudson, Mass. Bergs in open seas were not chosen f

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Coast Guard Icebreakers Aid Navy Task Group in Arctic Mission. Looking like cracked white frosting on a chocolate cake are big sheets of ice, as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eastwind (KAGS-879) travels through them. The ship's helicopter hovers to get this shot of the vessel and the ocean-going tug following close behind during a recent Arctic cruise. Note the huge icebergs in the background. The Coast Guard icebreakers Eastwind and Northwind (WAGB-282) were among the heavy-duty icebreakers in a Navy Task Group which raced against time during the brief Arctic "summer" on two missions known operationally as Nanook 52 and Sumac.

Photo collection Spaarnestad topics. Belgian prisoners of war. XIII "The space between ship and shore becomes small". July 1940. Antwerp

Observation telescope used for anti-aircraft gunnery in France during World War One. Used to locate enemy planes and provide range information to gunners. Photograph taken in Vincennes, Seine, France.

Beachhead Repairs. This image depicts artwork of a Coast Guard-manned LCI changing screws on a Normandy Beachhead while tanks and troops can be seen heading for the village. Artwork by combat artist Herman B. Vestal.

Blackfish Stranded. This image depicts Coast Guardsmen milling about a beach covered with an entire pod of beached whales. There are at least 15 dead whales pictured. The Coast Guardsmen also have a tractor.

The Battleship Potemkin and crew. Made famous by the rebellion of the crew against their oppressive officers in June 1905.

Photograph of Captured Japanese Soldiers and Korean Laborers Being Taken Via Tank Lighter to a Coast Guard-manned Combat Transport. Huddling in the bow of a tank lighter, these Japanese soldiers and Korean laborers captured in the invasion of Makin are being taken to the Coast Guard manned combat transport in the background. Coast Guardsmen participated in the invasion as a part of the Navy task force.

Soldiers returning from France on the Transport Belgic in the North River, New York City. Red Cross workers are seen on the pier, ready to welcome the troops. Photograph taken on February 9, 1919, by a Western Newspaper Union photographer (44795). Issued for official use only.

Photograph of Japanese Plane Shot Down on Luzon Beachhead. Jap Plane Shot Down on Luzon Beachhead. The Japanese plane, in foreground, fell under heavy ack ack fire sent up by the American task force which established a beachhead on Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Jan. 9. This picture by a Coast Guard combat photographer graphically show the invasion traffic moving ashore to back up the early waves of attackers. Jap planes came over to strafe Coast Guard-manned landing barges as they hit the beach.

Photograph of Fire Fighting Instruction at Barge 11, Coast Guard Depot on Lake Chickamauga. Fire! When that dread call is sounded, regular Coast Guardsmen and Temporary Reservists are trained and ready to fight fires at installations anywhere along the waterfront. When this picture was made Chief Boatswain's Mate Jay Rovak was on Barge 11 at the Coast Guard depot on Lake Chickamauga near Chattanooga, instructing Reservists Earl Wright, T. B. Davis and Pat St. Charles.

Nazi U-Boat Survivors Taken Ashore. A wounded survivor of a German submarine, which was sunk by a Coast Guard-manned Destroyer Escort recently, is brought ashore for hospitalization. The Nazi sub commander, also captured with his crew, was only 26 years old.

Exploding the Depths. Somewhere in the Atlantic U.S. Coast Guardsmen watch the explosion of a depth charge, hope to see a telltale sign of the success of their vigilance. The Coast Guard cutter is on convoy patrol, shielding the merchant ships from U-Boats.

Communist Cuban Naval PT boat with small boat off Northwest Beach Anguilla Island. Communist Cuban Naval PT boat with small boat off Northwest Beach Anguilla Island.

Coast Guard Safety Inspections for Ocean Liners. The Coast Guard officers inspect lifeboat equipment and look on while a boatswain's mate instructs shipmates in the stowage and use of provisions, including the items be displays here - cans of fresh water.

War Clouds Off Sicily. U.S. Coast Guard gunners tensely study the lowering skies for enemy planes as the Coast Guard-manned transport nears Sicily. Other ships in the invasion armada can be seen off side.

Allied battleships in the harbor of Constantinople. With the success of the Turkish Army under Kemal Pasha these messengers of great powers are withdrawing to their home waters and again the Turkish crescent floats supreme over the city. Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection , Battleships,Turkey,Istanbul,1920-1930.

Communist Cuban Naval PT boat with small boats off Northwest Beach Anguilla Island. Communist Cuban Naval PT boat with small boats off Northwest Beach Anguilla Island.

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Aerial View of Naval Air Station, Squantum, Massachusetts. 1939 - 1947.

EGYPT AFTER THE WAR: THE HON. MARK NAPIER BIDDING FAREWELL TO ARABI AND HIS FELLOW-EXILES ON THEIR EMBARKATION AT SUEZ FOR CEYLON, 1883

Waterfront Fire at Portsmouth, Virginia. This image depicts Coast Guard cutters fighting a fire at Pinner's Point in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Information office radio broadcaster Dutch Guinea. Loading copra. December 1953. Guinea

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