INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1952 



During that part of each year when ice presents a danger to the 

 North Atlantic shipping lanes, usually from February until July, the 

 headquarters for International Ice Patrol is maintained at the United 

 States Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland. From this vantage 

 point, with its proximity to the Grand Banks area, the commander, 

 International Ice Patrol directs the movement of the ships and air- 

 craft under his command. United States Coast Guard radio station 

 (NIK), also located at Argentia, which is controlled by commander, 

 International Ice Patrol, is used for collecting ice and weather reports, 

 and for broadcasting ice information bulletins to mariners. 



Forces assigned to Ice Patrol consisted of two PBlG (Bl7) air- 

 craft, used for aerial ice observation; the U. S. C. G. cutter Evergreen, 

 specially fitted out and used for oceanographic survey work; and two 

 larger patrol cutters, the Acushnet and Androscoggin. 



Capt. G. Van A. Graves, USCG was Commander, International 

 Ice Patrol during 1952. The first assistant, or Ice Patrol Officer was 

 Lt. P. S. Branson, USCG. Preseason ice reconnaissance flights by 

 the United States Coast Guard Air Detachment, Argentia, during 

 early February indicated that the normal movement of ice was weU 

 started, and consequently an advance Ice Patrol skeleton staff opened 

 the Ice Patrol Office at Argentia on 13 February 1952 and commenced 

 ice observation flights with one PBlG aircraft on 16 February. On 

 27 February, Commander, International Ice Patrol arrived with the 

 remainder of his staff, and on 5 March radio station NIK was opened. 

 Commencing on 5 March, reports of ice conditions were made twice 

 daily to the United States H)^drographic Office, Washington, D. C. 

 Because of the fact that the ice did not continue its expected south- 

 ward movement during March and the first part of April, ice broad- 

 casts to shipping were not begun until 30 April, at which time the 

 ice had assumed a position of potential danger. These broadcasts 

 were continued until the end of the season, on 16 June. 



During the early part of the season no ice threatened any of the 

 North Atlantic Track Agreement Tracks then in effect, so on 19 

 March, the Commander, International Ice Patrol recommended to 

 the North Atlantic Track Agreement representative that an immediate 

 shift be made to track F, and that the scheduled shift from track C 

 to B on 11 April not be made. This recommendation was acknowl- 

 edged with thanks, but was not acted upon. 



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