USCGC Taney - Fought from Pearl Harbor to Vietnam

The Coast Guard, of any nation, isn't normally your first thought for combat warships. They're most often put to use on coastal patrol and police work, after all. However, during large enough conflicts...this could change. And the Second World War was certainly no exception.

The United States Coast Guard had seven large, capable, cutters. The Treasuries. These would be pressed into navy service where one, in particular, has become well known. USCGC Taney. From Pearl Harbor itself, all the way through Okinawa, this cutter would serve in the war. Including, at times, some pretty intense combat duty.

All the while, her Coast Guard crew proved that you didn't need to be Navy to be capable sailors and warriors.

Not to mention the fact that Taney remained in active service for no less than 50 years, before a well-deserved rest as a museum ship.

Further Reading:
https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Article/2055194/taney-1936/
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/t/taney-ii.html
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-uscgc-taney-pearl-harbor-and-beyond/
http://www.armory.com/~vern/personal/taney/index.html