Quote:
Originally Posted by pj3000
the Wolverine was the US Navy's only Great Lakes gunboat.
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yep, the rush-bagot treaty allowed for each side to maintain only one naval ship below niagara, and one naval ship above niagara, "to keep the peace".
this was a
drastic reduction from the large naval fleets both sides built on the lakes, above and below niagara, during the war of 1812, and in effect it rightfully demilitarized the great lakes.
today, all we have on the lakes are about a dozen coast guard ice breakers/buoy tenders equipped with machine guns for law enforcement purposes, with a similar number of coast guard cutters on the canadian side. they can engage in minor counter-terrorism/smuggling stuff if need be, but would not fall under any reasonable definition of a proper "military ship".
there are no longer any commissioned naval vessels on either side that are stationed on the lakes, though occasionally the navy does send a frigate/LCS up the seaway on a goodwill/recruiting tour around the lakes. and as i've mentioned previously, the US navy's freedom class LCS ships, and the soon to be built constellation class frigates, are built on lake michigan at Marinette, WI and then sailed down the seaway to the bases they're to be stationed at.