Admiral’s Barge Given New Life in Auxiliary
Photo by: https://www.historicyachtcharter.com
One of the most unique vessels serving in the Coast Guard Auxiliary today, the Surface Facility “Naval War College” is a literal floating piece of American military history. As the name suggests, the aptly named “Naval War College” began its service life as a U.S. Navy Command Cutter (officially known as an Admiral’s Barge) … for the Commandant of the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
The 50-foot, 40,000-pound vessel was handcrafted at the Philadelphia Shipyards in 1956 and is made of double-planked yellow Alaskan cedar with an oak wood frame, the cabin itself of mahogany. Designed by renowned naval architect George Edwin Monk, Sr. (Jan. 1, 1894 – Jan. 21, 1973), the craft was officially a ceremonial platform for the Commandant to entertain guests though it was originally equipped with a 50-caliber machine gun on its forecastle. Sadly, the Naval War College is the last surviving example of the three identical Monk-designed cutters built for the United States Navy.
During the Naval War College’s 58 years of service, all at the namesake Newport, Rhode Island school, the craft welcomed many dignitaries. According to the craft’s official log, the Naval War College’s guests included various U.S. Cabinet-level officials such as Dr. Henry Kissinger, King Constantine II (last monarch of Greece), and two of America’s most revered Presidents… General Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. The craft underwent rebuilds in both the 1960’s and in 1982. Finally, after nearly six-decades of flying the colors of a two-star Admiral, the time came for the Navy to retire the craft and it went up for auction in 2015 following decommission.
The craft was saved from those that would have scrapped the Naval War College by Navy Veteran and Coast Guard Auxiliarist Joe Ruffini. Following what amounted to a bidding war with one of those would-be scrappers, Auxiliarist Ruffini won the day with a final bid of $43,000. After minor repairs and the compulsory Auxiliary Surface Facility inspection, the craft became a qualified Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel and remains in service to this day as a patrol facility.
The Naval War College now resides in Oceanport, New Jersey under the care of Ruffini and the members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 014-02-06 Sandy Hook Division.
