USCGC Androscoggin ( WHEC - 68 ) USCGC " Androscoggin " ( WHEC - 68 ) was an " Owasco " class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard . The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently " Androscoggin " did not see wartime service until the Vietnam war . " Androscoggin " was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company ' s San Pedro shipyard . Named after Androscoggin Lake , Maine , she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG - 68 on 26 September 1946 . Her ID was later changed to WHEC - 68 ( HEC for " High Endurance Cutter " - the " W " signifies a Coast Guard vessel ) . Peacetime service . " Androscoggin " was stationed at Boston , Massachusetts , in 1947 and 1948 . She was used primarily on ocean station duty in the North Atlantic . From 1948 to 3 July 1949 , she was stationed at New York . Decommissioned 1949 She was decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard , Curtis Bay , Maryland , from 31 October 1949 to 8 May 1950 . Recommissioned 1950 On 8 May 1950 , " Androscoggin " received the crew from cutter " Mocoma " , was recommissioned , and stationed at Miami Beach , Florida , until 27 February 1973 . " Androscoggin " was now used primarily for law enforcement and search and rescue operations , but also served several ocean station tours . On 29 and 30 May 1952 , she towed a disabled Navy PBM Mariner aircraft from 60 miles southeast of Miami to Miami , Florida . In 1956 , she served on Campeche Patrol . In April and May 1956 , she was assigned special duty relating to LORAN and visited Ecuador , Jamaica , Colombia , and Panama . In July 1956 , she served on the annual reserve cruise to San Juan , Puerto Rico , and Port - au - Prince , Haiti . From 17 April to 4 July 1959 , she shared International Ice Patrol duty with the " Acushnet " . She sailed to Reykjavík , Iceland , in January 1960 on a special mission . Berlin crisis In November 1961 , she took part in a special mission involving the USAF and the Air National Guard relating to the Berlin crisis . Training ship In 1962 , the Androscoggin served as Coast Guard schoolship at the Navy ’ s Fleet Sonar School , Key West . Cuban refugees and other rescues In late August 1965 , she evacuated Cuban refugees from Cay Sal to Key West . On 10 January 1966 , she rescued the crew from the sinking MV " Lampsis " and unsuccessfully attempted to save the vessel . On 3 February 1966 , she stood by the distressed MV " Aroin " until a commercial tug arrived . On 19 February 1966 , she rescued three Cuban refugees from Anguila Cay and transported them to Miami . On 25 May 1966 , she embarked 12 Cuban refugees from Cay Lobos and transported them to Key West . Movie and Television parts When returning from an Echo patrol , " Androscoggin " was dispatched to Nassau to take part in the filming of the movie " Assault on a Queen , " starring Frank Sinatra . In the final segments of the film , Androscoggin , through the miracle of special effects , saves the day by ramming and sinking a renegade submarine , thereby thwarting Sinatra ' s dastardly plan to rob RMS " Queen Mary " on the high seas . In the 1968 episode of Get Smart titled " Schwartz ' s Island " there are stock shots of a USCG Cutter with the designation W68 ; presumably the Androscoggin . Vietnam war . " Androscoggin " was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three , Vietnam , from 4 December 1967 to 4 August 1968 . On 1 March 1968 , she assisted in the destruction of an enemy steel trawler in a gun battle at the mouth of the Song Cau River . In May 1968 , she rescued 27 Vietnamese from the South China Sea . Return to peacetime duties . In 1969 , " Androscoggin " assisted the Dutch MV " Alida Gothern " . On 19 February 1970 , she stood by the disabled MV " Stellanova " until a commercial tug arrived . On 29 April 1970 , she provided medical assistance to USS " Dahlgren " off Bermuda . Decommissioning . She was decommissioned on 27 February 1973 , and sold for scrap on 7 October 1974 .