The USCGC Eastwind was a U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker that served during World War II and the Cold War. Originally built as a Navy gunboat, it was transferred to the Coast Guard in 1946 and converted into an icebreaker for operations in the Arctic. The ship played a crucial role in supporting scientific research expeditions, including the first successful overland crossing of the Arctic Ocean in 1958. During the Cold War, Eastwind participated in patrols to monitor Soviet activities in the Arctic region. In 1966, the ship was decommissioned and sold to a private company for commercial use. The USCGC Eastwind's service history highlights its importance in both military and scientific missions in the challenging Arctic environment.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.