History of the U.S. Coast Guard Ice Breakers.

This is a documentary I made the is narrated by Captain Bruce Toney. It is meant to be an educational video on the history of the mission to Antarctica and the capabilities on our ships. Some of it is a bit goofy since I made it while underway and did not take it seriously enough to be a legitimate documentary. It does, however, provide a unique perspective of the boat from the crew perspective. All video and photos were taken by U.S. Coast Guard members.

[@stanleygwizdakjr9751]

I appreciate this well done commentary on the modern USCG icebreakers. I had the honor of serving on two Wind Class breakers: Northwind (1975-77) and Burton Island (1977-78). With regard to Burton Island, we escorted the Polar Star during Deep Freeze 78 to Antarctica. I believe it was her maiden voyage which she could not complete due to vibration problems. We finished the mission and went home for decommissioning. It was my last trip before discharge. Serving on USCG icebreakers as a radioman was one of the seminal experiences of my life. Even after all these years, I still occasionally revisit them in dreams. Semper Paratus.

[@shakenama]

Oh wow.... this brings back a ton of memories. I was stationed on the Polar Stat from 92-95'. Two south trips and two north (AWS) trips. We had a great crew. Everyone from operations, engineering, aux gang, deck dept and everyone else. It was hard work maintaining her but well worth it pulling into ports. Stood next to Emporer penguins in Antarctica. Saw Polar Bears in the Arctic (A momma and her Cubs once tore down and ripped apart an antenna setup on the ice!) Honolulu, Bora Bora, Sydney (had our own cheerleading squad on the dock), Horbart, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Valparaiso and Acapulco were liberty ports. Circumnavigated Antarctica for a State Dept inspection in 95. If your ever in the Coast Guard ya got to do a tour on this ship. You won't regret it.

[@edbooth946]

Thanks, Captain, for the look back. My last deployment was aboard POLAR SEA in 1995. She was an awesome duty station with an awesome crew!

[@briancarlson6467]

Thank you Mike and thank you Captain Toney - great video. As a Polar Sea crewmember on Arctic Winter West 1978 I had a unique opportunity to sail aboard the brand new ship. I will never forget the experience of operating through such thick ice with seemingly unstoppable power in such unforgiving weather. Semper Paratus!

[@RichKuffler]

I served aboard the Polar Star when Capt. Toney was the Executive Officer (XO). He is just an awesome person, and I would have loved to serve under him as the Commanding Officer (CO). When the video started, I thought, "Damn, that voice sounds familiar." Great video.

[@jacelyngovender5777]

Truly enlightening ...been in the Great Lakes area for about a 1 year...these type of vessels are truly appreciated

[@tadroid3858]

Served on the Polar Star in 1984. Great experience! North trip around Iditirod & '84 Olympics Patrol was amazing!

[@FredFairbanks]

Fred A. Fairbanks Thank you Mike & Capt. Toney for your beautiful renewal of my eternal love and loyalty to the Hooligan Navy. I put in 5 years across the span of WWII, including anti-submarine warfare duty in the North Atlantic. Cold weather is always brutal.

[@vernabice2327]

Hello Fred, My name is Verna Bice. My email is [e-mail]. I am researching our common Family lines. Are you up to chatting? I look forward to hearing from. THANKS Verna Bice Texas Gulf Coast

[@mantis10_surf85]

I was in the CG from 1986-2007. I served on Northwind as an RM. Northwind was awesome. Great memories. The Grand Old Lady of the North!!!

[@model-man7802]

Cool video,I agree.We badly neglect the coast guard yet expect them to get things done with no money and hand me down equipment.

[@rodgerlogan]

I served in the Coast Guard from 1964 to 1985. My first assignment as a SA was on the CGC Northwind from 1965 to 1966 performing oceanographic and scientific work in the Kara and Laptev Seas during the Cold War. I retired in 1985 as a LCDR/Aviator at CGAS Barbers Point.

[@williamwhatley7739]

Awesome, thank you for the detailed video! Considering joining the USCG. Currently in the Army National Guard.

[@johnloughrey476]

Served aboard the Glacier 1969 and 70 crossing both North and South circles. Great memories!

[@ryoungatlmidotnet]

POLAR SEA is now a lawn ornament at Pier 36, we no longer resupply Thule, but little else has changed. This is STILL a good introductory video for POLAR STAR, 14 years later.

[@mcduck5]

She is an ornament because somebody didn't read the workshop manual before doing an oil change, used the wrong oil and seized 5 out of 6 of the diesal engines and deemed not worth fixing!

[@ryoungatlmidotnet]

@@mcduck5 Not the way I understand it, but I wasn't onboard....No question the engines (recently "upgraded") failed in a major way.

[@mcduck5]

@Ryan Young I read that the 'piston rings where welded to the block' on 5 out of 6 engines due to the incorrect oil being used.....

[@davidcolley4614]

Thank you sir for your service and for this Video. As a Coast Guard vet, I always wanted to see the Polar side of our service. I was a small boat cox, on 44 Ftrs out of Humbolt. Again thank you.

[@rickdavis3593]

Ran 30's, 41's and 44's...Oscar/Charlie 98

[@tylerhuston9259]

Little late but thanks for your service. Just left station Humboldt bay last year!

[@williammacgregor2631]

Quite a bit different ship than when I was in. Operation Deep Freeze 1970-1971 aboard WAGB 278 CGC Staten Island. The Staten Island was an old boat, the original North Wind. She was the first Icebreaker built back in the 40's. Went to the Russians for a while, the lend lease program. Came back to the Navy, was given to the Coast Guard and renamed Staten Island. We didn't have any of the facilities that the new breakers have. But we made sure we never got under two cases of beer in the paint locker. :)

[@JM-oh4yi]

I'm late to this but wow! As someone who has been having little luck finding images of the Polar Class interior this is an absolute wealth of information, especially the diagram at 6:50 and the shots of the old cargo cranes before the modernization.

[@machinist1337]

Spent thousands of hours working on these ships. I know alot about them. Still have nightmares about bulkhead shaft seals made of graphite puzzle pieces. Centerline shafting 90 tons! Those turbine shafts your talking about I aligned they weigh almost nothing. The shipyard these ships were serviced at purchased a lathe just to be able to check shafting a long time ago. The "hub" bolts that hold the propeller hub to the shafting flange are torqued to 32000 ft lbs

[@TheLittlered1961]

Thank you for the video. I once saw both the Polar Star and Polar Sea in dry dock from my little boat. It was an awesome sight. The Polar Star just left Seattle Nov 13 2017 for her trek down to the Antarctic.

[@cryingzombie]

I was part of a U.S. Coast Guard Aids-To-Navigation team. Thank you, captain Toney!

[@CGGrognard]

Thanks for the video of the Polar class breakers. As a crew member of the Glacier, I was jealous of the Polar class berthing space. The berthing I was assigned to on the Glacier held 63 crew members in tri racks. :)

[@c0137509]

Thats right i suffered through that deep freeze 78 79

[@004Black]

Semper Paratus Former crewman, CGC Planetree, WLB307 Mk3 Great documentary of your missions.I regret only have a camera when I served too long ago. We worked ATON from the gulf of Ak to Ketchikan AK and Polar class vessels had port calls in Juneau where we were. Jealous...

[@raymondeargle8653]

I was always amazed by the polar class. The Storis I was on did the old school ice breaking wave the block great ships I was in 1977.

[@tc1uscg65]

Served with Capt Brigham, (CO of Polar Sea before he retired in the mid 90's) when he was the CO of the Mobile Bay (WTGB-103) (last unit before heading off dit-dot world (Radioman School)) We are having our plank owner reunion in 2019 (40 years of service) in Sturgeon Bay WI (it's home port). All said, I don't think people realize how well kept the Coast Guard maintained it's ships. I visited the Taney in Baltimore a couple years ago. When I went on board, it smelled like a Coast Guard boat LOL and it appeared the thing could get underway at a moments notice. Same can be said about the "old" Mackinaw. Thanks for the video and your in making it. Oh, and if you think these ships road like a bathtub in normal seas, try a 140 in the great lakes (lake michigan) during a southern storm. Not uncommon to encounter some pretty large waves (I've seen 15+ feet being normal in the upper part of the lake, enough to take off the ice lights and launch a liferaft ;-) ) And being a ice breaker, they don't ride that good even at the dock.

[@davidcarmack5074]

I was fortunate to have served on both the Sea and the Star in the 70s and 80s

[@brodalf4969]

Wow. As a German i must say i am jealous! Thanks for making this little documentation. Here in germany the SAR missions are mainly carried out by the DGZRS (german association for saving the castaways you could translate...) No helicopters, just ships. But quite a lot of them compared to the states country size i guess. This organisation is completely financed by donations!!! The state doesnt pay a penny.

[@barnabas481]

In the German part of Nordsee and Ostsee SAR operations are carried by DGzRS, federal police, Marine, Luftwaffe and Zoll (customs). Helicopters and tugs are available in the whole area. The lack of ice breakers is caused by ... the lack of ice here.

[@debbiekennedy4500]

WOW! Men Against The Arctic. I have These ICE Breakers On Disney Archive.Treasure this Feature Remember First Show ing. 1955.I'm In London.Been to Tule air Base.Crew sing Davy Crockett. Remember Copter Crash. 85 now.

[@steve1978ger]

thank you for the insight into these great ships

[@clallerstedt4966]

Earned my arctic service medal aboard the USCGC Northwind in 82. Enjoyed your video. The Polar class were definitely much nicer than the wind class. Semper Paratus!

[@jllaws1991]

I have a family member that was on the Northwind in the late 80's. Interesting stories for sure.

[@PunkinHeadDJT]

I served on the Northwind on the final tour.

[@robg9236]

I was on active duty in the CG when these were commissioned. Even back then the rumor was that they were lemons. Initial problem was hydraulic oil leaking from the propeller hubs.

[@michaelchamberlain4618]

I was in the COAST GUARD on 140s, the Mackinaw #1/ 83. From 1983-1996

[@jamesswigert5666]

I served on the Mac two ice breaking seasons 77-78

[@jamesswigert5666]

@@DavidOfTheSouth at the time it sucked but time has a way of changing your viewpoint. Went to a small boat search and rescue station after that and it was pretty awesome

[@jamesswigert5666]

Oh wow that’s a tough question. Depends on what your passion in life is. I can only tell you about my time in the guard. One thing about the CG is you can advance much faster then other branches of the service. The boot camp was hard while I was in. Drill instructor told us that only 1/3 of our original company would graduate with our company. That doesn’t mean they kick you out. They just knock you back a week or two. Some got out after the first week and others got moved back. He was absolutely right as my original company started with 63 and graduated 21. Lol believe me an average man can make it through ok. There’s only 50,000 men and women in the guard do advancement can be quicker then say the Navy or others. You can be 19-20 years old and in charge of a 45-45 foot boat. Doing search and rescue. Putting out boat fires, towing broke down boats in, searching drug runners. Many different things with a lot of responsibility. You will learn enough skills to be able to get out and de an EMT, firefighter, work for merchant marines or other marine jobs. I’m sure you’d have to go to firefighting school to qualify to fight fires in a large city and you’d have to do the same as an EMT but most of your schooling you will have already learned in the CG and would make the schooling a lot easier. They love ex Coastie on fishing vessels and would be able to just about go to the top of the list if someone’s hiring. It can definitely give you a leg up for civilian jobs. Looking back though I would have stayed at least 20 years. I would have gotten out at 39 and had a pension check and could have gotten a civilian job and had that extra check coming every month and most employers love people that have been in the service. I don’t want to sway you. You don’t make a lot of money for the first four year enlistment but as you gain rank it gets better. It’s hard for a family man as your usually moving about every two years. Children go from school to school. It can be very rewarding but like anything else can be tough. One thing. Girls like men in uniform. Your stationed near water and that means wealthy people who own boats. After saving a mans half million dollar boat he’s so grateful he invites you to his house for a BBQ and his 18-19 year old daughter is checking you out. Dad loves a man around his daughters age who takes on responsibility that most her boyfriends are just that boys. Lol I’d hate to talk you out of furthering your education and make you think it’s all unicorns and rainbows and it’s probably changed a lot since I was in but I wish I’d have stayed in. Good luck in the future and do your research and make good decisions. Good luck and hope I was a help

[@bradenmcintire6984]

My dream assignment is to serve aboard an icebreaker! Thank you for this very informative video

[@dickbielenberg957]

Thank You. I worked on the Staten Island in 1970-71.

[@AX01Adventures]

Great video Mike & Skipper Toney. I sailed on the Star

[@debbiramacciotti7325]

great insight! I know a few polar roller sailors... great crews, beautiful and awesome ship. she's a force to be reckoned with to be sure.

[@vaygar]

Out of basic, I had the chance to be stationed on the Polar Star, but went on the Cutter Sorrel (Cordova, Alaska) instead. I'm thinking damn...

[@dundonrl]

Halon 1301 while it might displace O2, what it really does is interrupt the fire triangle (oxygen, fuel and heat) putting out the fire.

[@chrisardoin3933]

USCG Glacier. WAGB 8. I was on the very last tour (Operation Deep Freeze) down to Antarctica back in 86. The Glacier was based out of Portland OR. It was decommissioned and placed into the boneyard (no longer there) just off of the Benica-Martinez Bridge in CA. It was pulled out of retirement and brought to the East coast in the hopes that it would be refurbished and brought back to life but was never fully brought back to sailing condition. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. If there is anyone out there who have sailed on the Glacier. Respond to the comment.

[@michaelv1249]

Chris: I was an SN on Glacier (WAGB4) from 12/69-8/70 when I got off to attend EM 'A' school. I made one south trip, DF-70 and got off the day before she went north. Our skipper on the trip was Capt. Ted Roberge; there is also a book out about that very same trip called "Wind, Fire & Ice". The book was written by our PHS doctor on that trip, Dr. Robert Bunes. It's being sold on Amazon and is a great read for any Glacier crewman.

[@samuelpancake4084]

When i was assigned to one . The first patrol was cool and portcalling on the ice. After that it sucked

[@sandresstudios]

Thanks for the update. I was on the USS Burton Island and went to the Antarctica 61-62 and the Arctic 64.

[@rickdavis3593]

I remember when they sent the Burton Island down to get the Polar Star in 75 or 76 when they sheared a blade off one of the screws.

[@sandresstudios]

I remember hearing about that also. When we went down (61-62) we wound up being the only AGB in the area because the Statin Island and one other were having various problems and couldn't come into McMurdo Sound to give assistance clearing the channel. Later in 62 we went to the Arctic and wound up return to Seattle during one of their worst storms. We rolled so hard that we kept ringing the ship's bell, and that takes a 45 degree roll, closest time I ever almost got seasick. Those were the good ole days, eh?

[@Cyph3rHaxPalm]

This is very informative stuff, gives me an idea to spin a cool story and so on, which i'm in process of writing ... lol ... cool stuff and nice video!

[@shirleybalinski4535]

Hey...we could sure use you in the Upper Great Lakes most winters!!

[@cmoon682]

finally info on how icebreakers are built thx to Coast Guard

[@tomkerr4141]

Awsome ships! Great video. AWW79 / DF80

[@boataxe4605]

Now it’s the Polar Star and the MV Spare parts.

[@leeperryman1108]

The USGC Southwind was that BEST!!!

[@osmonson1]

Where can I find something on the Glaicer WAGB4

[@michaelpartida3682]

I had the privilege to help repair both ships (: very cool exp.

[@zanelile8192]

Glazier went to the breakers in Texas.

[@TybeeIsland31328]

Nicely Done! Thank you!

[@jasons44]

Thanks to you, never knew most all told

[@kevinstonerock3158]

While I kind of hate to acknowledge it at least one Russian ice breaker has a higher capacity to break ice. I watched a video about it last night. The yamal has a continuous capacity of eight feet at 3 knots and a ramming capability up to 30 feet. It’s nuclear powered in case of stranding but has nearly unlimited range otherwise. I was hoping for American bragging rights but unfortunately not. Strangely, it has the same horsepower rating per screw and total power. Their hull design must be the determining factor. The one advantage ours has is the propellers are reversible pitch. They have a bubbling system to help break the ice but I didn’t see any mention for ours. It would be nice to have at least one with the same or greater capacity should the need arise for us.

[@alexandersinclair9006]

Ok traitor

[@wadeasaad3842]

amazing video

[@VicsYard]

Wow that's real awesome!!!!

[@mervynmccracken]

XLNT, Thank you.

[@FirstNameLastName-cu2tq]

Aker Yards has signed a contract with the large Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel, for delivery of four container/cargo ships for arctic operations, with an option for a fifth. This order, awarded to Aker Yards, has a value of approximately €320m for four vessels and follows Norilsk Nickel’s recent deployment of the first vessel of this type - the MS Norilskiy Nickel. The newly contracted vessels are scheduled for delivery by Aker Yards’ German shipyards from the third quarter of 2008 through to the first quarter of 2009. The MS Norilskiy Nickel was delivered to the Russian Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC) in mid-2006 and follows successful ice trials in the Kara Sea area in March 2006. The new arctic container vessel will be used to transport metallurgical products from Dudinka on the river Yenisey in Siberia, to Murmansk in northern Russia. The MS Norilskiy Nickel has a total cargo capacity of 648, 20ft TEU containers and s capable of breaking 1.5 m ice. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppWUi5qqZ9Gsmbs

[@terryboyer1342]

We need one on the Great Lakes. A little overkill but what the hey.

[@terryboyer1342]

??? Whats a Merrimack? If you mean the new Mackinac it's not even close to these breakers.

[@terryboyer1342]

Sorry for the confusion Jake. I tried to show I was being a little sarcastic with the overkill descriptor. I know we don't need a Polar class here but what the USCG now uses for breaking ice is lacking in capability. Congress just won't budget the money. Peace!

[@xxdeathreaperxx2024]

we need lots more ice breakers Russia has 40 alone

[@KsAdventures]

+xXDeathReaperXx We have 2, but only 1 works. The other is being cannibalized for parts. It is a travesty to the Coast Guard and the citizens that the last 2 POTUS administrations have done nothing to alleviate this situation. Citizens need to demand this be fixed.

[@TheLittlered1961]

We have at least two operating in open ocean. The Polar Star and the Healy. The Polar Star just left Seattle Nov 13 2017. www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-a-changing-arctic-a-lone-coast-guard-icebreaker-maneuvers-through-ice-and-geopolitics/2017/09/03/dfad84d4-7d12-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_story.html?.e94ca85cbc60

[@86dieselman]

@@KsAdventures there are more coming. Part of why Russia has so many advanced ice breakers has to do with their colder climate in the northern regions.

[@davidfeldman7315]

WAGB 11 DF 91 been there done that

[@Louis97531]

Very 👍

[@johngirvan5754]

A fine interesting video! Good job SN Rock Walker! Semper Paratus!

[@karlogjam]

Cool video

[@joesilva4479]

Thanks i liked it

[@Saltysailor83]

WAGB11 '84-'85

[@cmoon682]

this is why USS Fitzgerald was a screwup big-time,honor to lost souls

[@alexandersinclair9006]

USS??? Try SS moron

[@274727]

LNG-powered icebreaker Polaris - Full-scale ice trials of the Aker ARC 130 design kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmqoYYRmapJmkMk

[@StrokerAce3983]

Russia has a nuclear powered icebreaker that makes our 1 icebreaker look like a floating turd.

[@TheLittlered1961]

This maybe true but from what I understand it is unable to travel in warm waters.

[@alexandersinclair9006]

@@TheLittlered1961 your right. It has to have arctic water for cooling.

[@tyjohnson7327]

could not take is voice any longer made it 9:33 then killed it

[@freddiestubblefield8526]

☝️👁❤

[@trugssgogorf6371]

As always, American lies. Even if you just compare the characteristics of the old Soviet icebreakers are more powerful

[@michaelwalker8974]

What exactly is the lie sir? This vessel has been breaking isce in Antarctica for decades. No where in the video does it say "the most powerful" but "some of the most powerful" and for non-nuclear ice breakers they are some if the most powerful.

[@trugssgogorf6371]

@@michaelwalker8974 cause there are 20+ icebreakers more powerful than these two

[@trugssgogorf6371]

@@michaelwalker8974 he said "two of the most capable in the world". But this is lie. Many countries have newest icebrakers. And they are all superior to the American ones.

[@michaelwalker8974]

@@trugssgogorf6371 ok so one this video was made 13 years ago, two as part of the Antarctic Treaty you cannot have nuclear ice breakers in/on that continent, and three these ice breakers are still more powerful than some of the aging Russian fleet. Yes has more and more powerful ones but nothing in this video is a lie sir. This Icebreak, through it's design, is capable of breaking 20 ft thick ice so...your statement does not hold up.

[@trugssgogorf6371]

@@michaelwalker8974 The Russians have almost all the icebreakers in the far sea zone more powerful than these two. More precisely, 22 out of 26. They are also building new icebreakers for the northern sea route. God, we have any of the icebreakers in Sweden newer and more modern than these two. Got by Americans thinking about their fake greatness