eagle

The United States Coast Guard Ship (USCGS) Eagle

The United States Coast Guard Ship (USCGS) Eagle is a 295-foot (90 m) tall ship used for training future Coast Guard officers. It is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American military service and is one of only two commissioned tall ships in the United States, the other being the USS Constitution.

The USCGS Eagle was designed by the German firm of Blohm & Voss and was originally built as the Horst Wessel for the Nazi Party in 1936. It was seized by the United States at the end of World War II and was commissioned as the Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Eagle in 1946.

The CGC Eagle is used to train future Coast Guard officers in seamanship, navigation, and leadership. It is also used to represent the Coast Guard at public events and to promote the service's missions and values.

The ship has a crew of approximately 50 people, including both Coast Guard personnel and cadets from the Coast Guard Academy. The cadets are typically third-year students who are learning how to lead and manage a crew.

In addition to its training missions, the CGC Eagle has also been used for search and rescue operations, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection. It has participated in several international tall ship festivals and has made numerous goodwill visits to foreign ports.

The CGC Eagle is a symbol of the Coast Guard's long history of service and its role as a leader in maritime safety and security. It is a testament to the skills and dedication of the men and women who serve in the Coast Guard, and it serves as an inspiration to future generations of Coast Guard officers.