USCGC Acacia

The USCGC Acacia was a Coast Guard vessel originally built as a military minelayer and later converted to maintain lighthouses and navigational buoys. Displacing about 1,130 tons and launched in 1920 from a Wisconsin shipyard, it operated along Caribbean routes performing essential maritime support services.

Built in 1920, the vessel began as a military minelayer before transitioning to Coast Guard service focused on supporting maritime navigation. It was sunk in 1942 by the German submarine U-161 during World War II while operating in Caribbean waters.

The vessel took on lighthouse maintenance duties during an era when the Coast Guard was building its identity as a civilian-focused maritime service. This shift shows how military resources adapted to serve peaceful coastal navigation needs.

The ship rests as a wreck on the ocean floor and is not accessible to casual visitors. Information about its history can be found in Coast Guard archives and maritime museums located in American coastal cities and Caribbean islands.

The vessel endured an intense bombardment from the German submarine with hundreds of rounds of ammunition before finally sinking. Remarkably, all 35 crew members survived the attack despite the severity of the assault.