The USCGC Bibb (WPG-31) was a 327-foot (100 m) Secretary-Class (also known as "Treasury Class") Coast Guard ship commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury. Bibb was named for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (July 4, 1844 – March 7, 1845) George M. Bibb.

Quick Facts History, United States ...

USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)
History
United States
Name	Bibb
Namesake	George M. Bibb
Builder	Charleston Navy Yard
Laid down	15 August 1935
Launched	14 January 1937
Commissioned	10 March 1937
Decommissioned	30 September 1985
Fate	Sunk as an artificial reef off the Florida Keys on 28 November 1987
General characteristics
Class and type	Treasury Class cutter
Displacement	2,350 (1936)
Length	327' 0"
Beam	41' 0"
Draft	12' 6" (max.)
Propulsion	2 x Westinghouse double-reduction geared turbines; 2 x Babcock & Wilcox sectional express, air-encased, 400 psi, 200° superheat 5,250 (total shaft horse power)
Speed	19.5 knots (36.1 km/h)
Range	13.0 knots, 7,000 mi (11,000 km) range
Complement	1937: 12 officers, 4 warrants, 107 enlisted 1941: 16 officers, 5 warrants, 202 enlisted 1966: 10 officers, 3 warrants, 133 enlisted.
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: (1945) SK, SG-1; (1966) AN/SPS-29D, AN/SPA-52. Fire Control Radar: (1945) Mk-26; (1966) Mk-26 MOD 4 Sonar: (1945) QC series; (1966) SQS-11
Electronic warfare & decoys	HF/DF: (1943)
Armament	1936: 2 × 5 in (127 mm)/51 cal. guns 2 × 6-pounder guns 1 x 1-pounder gun 1966: 1 x 5"/38 caliber gun (single) MK 52 MOD 3 director 1 x 10-1 Hedgehog 2 x (P&S) Mk 32 MOD 5 TT 4 x Mk 44 MOD 1 torpedoes 2 x .50 cal. M2 Browning MG 2 x MK-13 high altitude parachute flare mortars.
Aircraft carried	Curtiss SOC-4, USCG No. V172 (1937-1938) Grumman JF-2, USCG No. V146 (1939-)

Close

Bibb saw service in World War II. The ship fought in the Battle of the Atlantic serving as a convoy escort. In February 1943, the convoy came under attack and the SS Henry R. Mallory was torpedoed. Capt. Raney ignored the order to leave the survivors and went back and rescued 202 men from the icy waters. In 1944 Bibb provided convoy escort between the United States and North Africa — mainly to Bizerte in Tunisia. In January 1945 Bibb left Charleston, South Carolina for service in the Pacific theater where, as an AGC, she served temporarily as the flagship for Commander, Mine Craft, Pacific Fleet. Bibb is credited with destroying one Japanese kamikaze aircraft in action at Karema Retto.

In peacetime the Bibb spent time on ocean station providing weather information and beacons to trans-Atlantic traffic. While on ocean station, the Bibb came to the rescue of the airliner, the Bermuda Sky Queen. In the Vietnam War, the Bibb transported John Kerry after he was shot on his Swift boat.

Bibb was decommissioned in 1985 and remained docked until it was transported to the Florida Keys for use as an artificial reef. The ship was sunk in November 1987 just outside the coral reef tract, about six miles (10 km) offshore of the island of Key Largo. It lies on its side at a depth of about 130 feet (40 m). Nearby, a second Treasury-Class ship, the USCGC Duane (WPG-33) was also sunk as an artificial reef.

The Bibb rests at 24°59.71′N 80°22.77′W.

Among those serving on Bibb was James A. Watson, a rear admiral who was the onsite ranking officer in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Watson was an Engineering Officer/Student Engineer (1978-1980).^[1][2]

The USCGC Bibb appeared in the 1952 film Walk East on Beacon at the film's climactic end.