Wind - class icebreaker The " Wind " - class icebreaker s were a line of diesel electric - powered icebreakers in service with the United States Navy , United States Coast Guard , Royal Canadian Navy , Canadian Coast Guard and Soviet Navy from 1944 through the late 1970s . They were very effective ships : all except " Eastwind " served at least thirty years , and " Northwind " served in the USCG continuously for forty - four years . Considered the most technologically advanced icebreakers in the world when first built , the " Wind " - class icebreakers were also heavily armed ; the first operator of the class was the United States Coast Guard , which used the vessels for much - needed coastal patrol off Greenland during World War II . Three of the vessels of the class , the " Westwind " , the " Southwind " , and the first " Northwind " all went on to serve temporarily for the Soviet Union under the Lend - Lease program , while two others were built for the United States Navy and another was built for the Royal Canadian Navy ; all eight vessels were eventually transferred to the United States Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard . The " Winds " were the first class of true icebreakers built by the United States . Gibbs & Cox of New York provided the designs with input from the Coast Guard ' s Naval Engineering Division . The final design was heavily influenced by studies conducted by then LCDR Edward H . Thiele , USCG ( later RADM , and Engineer in Chief of the U . S . Coast Guard ) of foreign icebreakers , namely the Swedish " Ymer " , built in 1931 , and the Soviet " Krasin " . Seven ships of the class were built in the United States , and one modified version the HMCS " Labrador " was built in Canada . Construction . State of the art when designed , their hull was of unprecedented strength and structural integrity . The outer hull plating was constructed with 1 - 5 / 8 inch thick high tensile steel and they had a double bottom above the waterline with the two " skins " being approximately 15 inches apart , insulated with cork . Framing was closely spaced and the entire hull was designed for great strength . With a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed , their bow had the characteristic sloping forefoot that enabled her to ride up on heavy ice and break it with the weight of the vessel . Their stern was similarly shaped to facilitate breaking ice while backing down . The sides of the icebreaker were rounded , with marked tumble home , that enabled the ship to break free from ice by heeling from side to side . Such heeling was accomplished by shifting water rapidly from wing tanks on one side of the ship to the other . A total of 220 tons of water could be shifted from one side to the other in as little as 90 seconds , which induced a list of 10 degrees . Ballast could also be shifted rapidly between fore and aft tanks to change the trim of the ship . Diesel electric machinery was chosen for its controllability and resistance to damage , and they were fitted with a removable front propeller used to create a wash to clear ice . U . S . Ship Numbers . Initially , the ships of the " Wind " - class carried the designation of either WAG for Coast Guard , Auxiliary , General , or , ( the U . S . Navy ) AGB for Auxiliary , General , Breaker . In 1949 all U . S . Coast Guard WAGs were redesignated WAGBs for Coast Guard , Auxiliary , General , Breaker . During 1965 and 1966 , all U . S . Navy icebreakers were transferred to the U . S . Coast Guard . NB : The two " Northwinds " referenced below are not to be confused with one another . For Canada ' s " Wind " - class icebreaker , the Royal Canadian Navy ( RCN ) assigned Pendant Number AW 50 to the Canadian - built HMCS " Labrador " . " Labrador " served in RCN from 1954 to 1957 . " Labrador " was then transferred to Department of Transport ( DOT ) , re - commissioned Canadian Government Ship ( CGS ) " Labrador " serving 1958 to 1962 . She was again transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard ( CCG ) and re - commissioned " CCGS Labrador " , serving from 1962 to 1987 . The " Labrador " was not fitted with any weapons systems . " Labrador " possessed all the general characteristics of her American - built sister ships , but was much improved with state - of - the - art gear at the time ( 1951 ) . " Labrador " was the only Canadian Wind - class icebreaker to be constructed , and also the last of the Wind - class to be built . Ships in class . USCGC " Staten Island " ( WAGB - 278 ) . Went to in 1944 where she was known as the " Severni Veter " ( North wind ) and since 1946 as the " Kapitan Belusov " as part of the Lend - Lease program ; returned to in 1951 as the " Northwind " , renamed " Staten Island " in 1952 , then transferred to in 1966 . USCGC " Southwind " ( WAGB - 280 ) . Sent to in 1945 where it was known as the " Admiral Makarov " as part of the Lend - Lease program . Returned to in 1950 as the USS " Atka " , then transferred in 1966 to where she was known as the USCGC " Southwind " . Sent to in 1945 where it was known as the " Severni Polius " ( North pole ) as part of the Lend - Lease program . Returned to in 1951 , transferred to in 1952 . USCGC " Northwind " ( WAGB - 282 ) . This was the second icebreaker commissioned " Northwind " . The first " Northwind " was transferred to the USSR under Lend - Lease and became the " Staten Island " upon her return to the United States . The name change was made to avoid confusion with the other icebreaker . Canadian Coast Guard .