USCGC Yamacraw (WARC-333)

The USCGC Yamacraw (WARC-333) was a United States Coast Guard cable repair ship. Originally built as the Army Cable Ship (ACS) Yamacraw, she was launched in 1943 and initially operated by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II to lay and maintain underwater communication cables. These cables were vital for military communications and intelligence gathering.

Following World War II, the Yamacraw was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1966. Redesignated as USCGC Yamacraw (WARC-333), she continued her mission of laying and repairing undersea cables, but now with a focus on maintaining the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), also known as SOSUS. SOSUS was a network of underwater hydrophones designed to detect and track Soviet submarines during the Cold War.

The Yamacraw played a significant, albeit largely unpublicized, role in the Cold War effort. Her work maintaining the SOSUS network helped to ensure the effectiveness of this crucial surveillance system.

The ship was decommissioned in 1993 after a long and distinguished career serving both the Army and the Coast Guard. Her capabilities were eventually superseded by newer technologies and vessels.