This is my version of the Hamilton class High Endurance Cutters as originally built. Squizzy did an outstanding job with his designs and the later FRAM versions are prominently detailed on the web. The class as originally designed and built is sorely under represented. Originally 32 units were planned for the collection of meteorological and oceanographic data on "ocean station" as part of the "Gate Project". However, by 1970 new jet aircraft were coming to rely less on fixed ocean stations; and satellites were providing weather data. The need for ocean stations was being questioned and the requirement was reduced to 12 units.
Of note, there is an excerpt in the book "Electronic Greyhounds: The Spruance-Class Destroyers" that stated that the Canadian Iroquois class DDH was influenced by the USCG's Hamilton class WHEC, which in turn influenced the USN's Spruance class DD. At the time they were built only one other class of warship in the world used a similar CODOG system, a West German frigate design. This technology has since become standard for high performance vessels. The design has come home ...