This Wind Class Icebreaker, USCGC Southwind WAG-280 was commissioned 15 July 1944. after service on the Greenland Patrol and assisting the USCGC Eastwind in capturing the German trawler Externsteine, She was decommissioned 23 March 1945 and transferred to the USSR 25 March 1945 under a lend/lease program. As a merchant marine vessel, the Soviets named her Admiral Makarov. On 28 Dec. 1949, She was returned to the U.S. Navy at Yokosuka, Japan. The U.S. Navy Commissioned her 13 April 1950 with the name USS Atka (AGB-3). So named after a small island in the Aleutians. An extensive overhaul and modernization was completed late May 1951 at Boston Naval Shipyard and began operations from Boston to resupply American and Canadian Air Bases, Weather Stations, and Radar Bases. After service with the Atlantic Fleet and three Artic tours she was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard 31 Oct. 1966. "She has now come home to Mama". After six months in the shipyard and home port of Baltimore, MD. a shakedown cruise to Bermuda, she is back in her element,"The Ice".
