Keel laid down in July of 1941 at Toledo Shipbuilding, the USCGC Storis was launched in April of 1942 and later commissioned in September of 1942 as an ice patrol tender. The Storis is the only ship of her class currently in commission.
During WWII the Storis, a Scandinavian name derived from the Eskimo word sirorssuit meaning "great ice," patrolled the eastern coast of Greenland looking for German weather stations.
After the war, Storis was transferred to Juneau, Alaska in 1948 and assigned to the Bering Sea Patrol, responsible for providing services to the isolated native villages along the Alaskan coast, as well as establishing early LORAN radio navigation stations, and supporting early warning radar stations.
In July of 1957, the Storis, in the company of the Coast Guard cutters Bramble and Scar, established the "Northwest Passage" a deep-water channel for large ships across the northern waters of North America. In addition, at the completion of her journey, the Storis became the first registered vessel to circumnavigate North America. Upon her return to Alaska later in 1957 the Storis was assigned to Kodiak Island, Alaska.
In 1972 the Storis underwent a major overhaul, with her mission changing from icebreaker to medium endurance cutter. In 1986 the Storis underwent yet another major refit, this time to replace her engine machinery as well as improve crew accommodations.
The Storis was decommissioned in February of 2007.
General Characteristics:
The Storis is 230 feet long, has a beam of 43 feet, and draws 15 feet of water. Her displacement is 2,030 tons and her compliment is 12 officers and 74 enlisted. At 8 knots the Storis has a cruising range of 22,000 miles and at maximum speed (14 knots) a range of 12,000 miles.
Propulsion:
The Storis is powered by an electric motor turning a single shaft with a fixed pitch propeller. The electric drive motor is powered by three GM-EMD diesel electric generators producing a total of 3,000 hp.
Electronics:
In addition to UHF/VHF communications, the Storis is equipped with a SPS-64 I-band navigational search radar with a 64 nautical mile range.
Armament:
The Storis is armed with a single Mk 38 25mm bushmaster cannon as well as two M2 .50 machineguns.