USCGC Ossipee (WPR-50) was a United States Coast Guard cutter of the Tallapoosa class constructed by Newport News Shipbuilding of Newport News, Virginia and commissioned 28 July 1915. Her hull was strengthened for light icebreaking operations. She was assigned a homeport of Portland, Maine after commissioning and cruised as far south as Cape Ann, Massachusetts serving in a law enforcement and search and rescue capacity. She saw service in both World War I and World War II. World War I Coastal patrol USCGC Ossipee, Captain William H. Munter, commanding, was en route from Portland, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts, on 6 April 1917, when Congress declared that a state of war existed between the United States and the German Empire. On arrival at Boston, the cutter received orders to proceed to the mouth of the Kennebec River, Maine, and Captain Munter was assigned to the commander of that defensive area with additional duties connected with the patrol of the river mouth and the adjacent coastline. Returning to Portland, where she arrived on 7 April, a stay in port of a few days was made, and on 11 April, Ossipee proceeded to her station, arriving there on the same day, orders were received assigning Ossipee to duty with the Nantucket Detachment, Patrol Force. After coaling at Melville, Rhode Island, and painting the ship the regulation war color, she left Newport, Rhode Island, and proceeded on 23 April to her new station, where she arrived the same day. She continued to guard that area and patrol until 5 May, when she was ordered to report to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine, for refit of her guns. The four 6-pound guns were replaced by a battery of four 3-inch guns. Ossipee continued to serve with the Nantucket Detachment until orders were received to report to the Boston Navy Yard to be outfitted for overseas duty. Gibraltar convoy duty Danger zone escort Ossipee was prepared and outfitted for this important duty at the Boston Navy Yard, and on 15 August she sailed for Gibraltar. She arrived there on 30 August. The commanding officer reported to the U.S. Patrol Commander and paid an official call on the senior British naval officer of that port. Here the cutter was assigned to duty with Squadron Two of the patrol forces based at Gibraltar. On 3 September, she joined her first convoy as a "danger zone" escort.