USCGC Burton Island ( WAGB - 283 ) USS " Burton Island " ( AG - 88 ) was a United States Navy that was later re - commissioned in the United States Coast Guard as the USCGC " Burton Island " ( WAGB - 283 ) . She was named after an island near the coast of Delaware . Construction . " Burton Island " was one of the icebreakers designed by Lieutenant commander Edward Thiele and Gibbs & Cox of New York , who modeled them after plans for European icebreakers he obtained before the start of World War II . She was the sixth of seven completed ships of the " Wind " - class of icebreaker s operated by the United States Coast Guard . Her keel was laid on 15 March 1946 at Western Pipe and Steel Company shipyards in San Pedro , California , she was launched on 30 April 1946 , and commissioned on 28 December 1946 . Her hull was of unprecedented strength and structural integrity , with a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed , a cut away forefoot , rounded bottom , and fore , aft and side heeling tanks . Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controllability and resistance to damage . " Burton Island " was built during peacetime , so she had a much lighter armament than her war - built sisters , one 38 cal . deck gun and three quad - mounted Bofors 40 mm anti - aircraft autocannons when in Navy service , and unarmed for the Coast Guard . Ship ' s history . US Navy , 1947 – 1966 . On 17 January 1947 , " Burton Island " , loaded with supplies , steamed from San Diego to Ross Sea , Antarctica where it met with units of TF 68 on the first Antarctica Development project , Operation Highjump . After returning from Antarctica , " Burton Island " departed 25 July 1947 for the Point Barrow expedition to Alaska . From April 1948 to December 1956 , " Burton Island " participated in 19 Arctic and Alaskan cruises , including Operation Windmill . During Operation Windmill " Burton Island " was the flagship of CDR Gerald L . Ketchum , USN commander of Task Force 39 . Duties on the cruises varied including , supply activities , helicopter reconnaissance of ice flows , scientific surveys , underwater demolition surveys , and convoy exercises . In March 1949 , " Burton Island " was redesignated AGB - 1 . One prominent excursion was with the USS Seadragon ( SSN - 584 ) and USS Skate ( SSN - 578 ) in 1962 , in which torpedoes were tested underneath the polar ice pack after the two subs had rendezvoused at the North Pole . US Coast Guard , 1966 – 1978 . On 15 December 1966 , the U . S . Navy transferred the vessel , along with all of its icebreakers , to the United States Coast Guard and it was renumbered WAGB - 283 . After its transfer , " Burton Island " was stationed at Long Beach , California and used for icebreaking operations . Starting in 1967 through 1978 , " Burton Island " went on eight different Deep Freeze operations to the Antarctic . In the operations , " Burton Island " was responsible for creating and maintaining aids to navigation , clearing channels through the ice for supply vessels , laying cables , delivering and dispatching the U . S . Mail at remote stations and vessels , search and rescue , fisheries patrol , law enforcement , and giving dental and medical treatment at remote Native Alaskan communities . In addition to Deep Freeze operations , " Burton Island " served as a floating platform for scientific surveys and research around Alaska and other isolated polar areas . " Burton Island " also conducted numerous search and rescue ( SAR ) missions . From October 1967 to April 1968 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 68 . From October 1968 to April 1969 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 69 . From November 1969 to April 1970 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 70 and her accompanying icebreaker " USCGC Edisto ( WAGB - 284 ) " was disabled . From November 1970 to April 1971 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 71 and again her accompanying icebreaker " USCGC Staten Island ( WAGB - 278 ) " was disabled . From August to September 1971 she conducted an oceanographic survey along North Slope , Alaska . From February to March 1972 she conducted a scientific survey in Cook Inlet , Alaska . From November 1972 to April 1973 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 73 . From June to July 1973 she conducted oceanographic research in Alaskan waters . From November 1974 to April 1975 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 75 . From 13 November 1975 to 26 February 1976 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 76 . From July to September 1976 she deployed to the Arctic . From 9 November 1976 to 7 April 1977 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 77 . During that deployment in December , 1976 , she carried out numerous SAR missions at Wellington , New Zealand following a torrential downpour . From 9 July 1977 to 8 September 1977 she undertook a cruise to the Arctic Ocean during which time her crew constructed several radar navigation towers along the north coast of Alaska and conducted gravity surveys of the Arctic Ocean . From 20 November 1977 to 1 April 1978 she participated in Operation Deep Freeze ' 78 . From mid - 1977 to 9 May 1978 she was stationed at Government Island / Coast Guard Island Alameda , California and used for icebreaking . Decommissioning and sale . She was decommissioned on 9 May 1978 . An excerpt from a Maritime Administration letter dated 21 November 1995 indicates her ultimate fate : Notes . A 1 / 300 scale plastic model kit of the Burton Island is available by Revell - monogram or on eBay .