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spence -> CGC Taney (and other USCG Cutters in the game) (6/18/2014 2:34:01 PM)
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The likelihood of an official data update to the game is fairly remote but for all the modders out there I offer the following information re the ship. The classification, experience ratings, and ship's updates in the game are in error. Source: USCG Historian website.
Unlike many cutters before and since the USCGC Taney was purpose built as a Coast Guard Cutter.
Its design was based on the Erie Class gunboats (like USS Charleston) but was modified to be more successful at Coast Guard missions of law enforcement (the Rum War for the USCG was 10 years closer to the USCG than WWI was to the USN) and search and rescue. As initially constructed the Taney was an aviation capable ship being assigned a J2F for scouting missions.
In fact the Ford Island Duty Officer who was due to be relieved on Dec 7th 1941 was the Taney's Aviation Officer (it is unclear whether the a/c itself was still available or whether the most recent weapons upgrade (Spring 1941) had downgraded her aviation capability - I suspect the Aviation Officer was a "relic" of that earlier configuration awaiting xfer orders at the end of his "tour".)
In late July 1941 CGC Taney was transferred to the US Navy. From that time onward she alter-
nated with USS Ward, USS Chew, USS Schley performing harbor security and local ASW patrols. It should be noted that CGC Taney's displacement was around twice that of any DD in either the Pacific or Atlantic Fleets. With no torpedo tubes and without a split plant (2 engine rooms and 2 fire rooms) she was not meant to fight in a line of battle but was rather very well suited to convoy escort/ASW. As the only Treasury Class cutter in the Pacific CGC Taney did not end up sinking any submarines there but it should be noted that 6 sisters sank 3 to 5 U-boats on the N.Atlantic convoy routes over the first 18 months of the war (and other cutter types sank 2 more in the same time frame). As a class they were quite successful in the ASW/escort role.
In the game it is classed as a PC which gives it some pretty crumby ship's experience levels. It never really fit into the USN system of classification although the USN did call it a WPG (W for Coast Guard). As more apt description of its role it might be best classed as DE.
That war record for both the class and the Coast Guard in general argues for a somewhat enhanced ship's experience level. Since experience levels tend to vary with rank the CGC Taney was commanded by a full Commander before and after Pearl Harbor rather a Lt or Ltjg.
Finally CGC Taney served in the Pacific from Dec 1941 through Feb 1943. She was then refitted to a unique configuration with 4 x 5"/38cal DP guns and sent to the Central Atlantic and Mediterranean. The upgrade in the game is similar to her sister ships final configuration in the Atlantic but never happened. The CGC Taney was withdraw from convoy duty in the Atlantic in late 1944 and converted to an AGC on the East Coast. She then returned to the Pacific in January 1945 serving as an AGC off Okinawa in 1945.
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