The seagoing buoy tender is a class of small U.S. Coast Guard cutters that were designed to serve multiple missions in the Great Lakes and the oceans of the world. Their primary mission is to tend to all Coast Guard aids to navigation (ATON), such as buoys and lighthouses. In addition, they also perform search and rescue missions, light ice-breaking, and law enforcement. These ships are designated with the hull classification symbol WLB.

Two classes of the WLB cutters have been produced. The older class, the "180" class WLB cutters, were 180 feet (55 m) long. Forty of these sturdy vessels were built from 1942-1944. All but one were constructed in the shipyards of Duluth, Minnesota. All forty of the 180s are now retired and have been replaced with the new 225 foot (69 m) Juniper class WLBs.

"180"-class ships

Class A (Balsam)

WW2 Buoy tender under construction

WW2 Buoy Tender USCG Sorrel WLB-296

• USCGC Balsam (WLB 62)
• USCGC Cactus (WLB 270)
• USCGC Cowslip (WLB 277)
• USCGC Woodbine (WLB 289)
• USCGC Gentian (WLB 290)
• USCGC Laurel (WLB 291)
• USCGC Clover (WLB 292)
• USCGC Evergreen (WLB 295)
• USCGC Sorrel (WLB 296)
• USCGC Citrus (WLB 300)
• USCGC Conifer (WLB 301)
• USCGC Madrona (WLB 302)
• USCGC Tupelo (WLB 303)

Class B (Mesquite)

USCG Buoy Tender Mesquite

• USCGC Ironwood (WLB 297)
• USCGC Mesquite (WLB 305)
• USCGC Buttonwood (WLB 306)
• USCGC Planetree (WLB 307)
• USCGC Papaw (WLB 308)
• USCGC Sweetgum (WLB 309)

Class C (Iris)

USCG Buoy Tender Sundew

• USCGC Basswood (WLB 388)
• USCGC Bittersweet (WLB 389)
• USCGC Blackhaw (WLB 390)
• USCGC Blackthorn (WLB 391)
• USCGC Bramble (WLB 392)
• USCGC Firebrush (WLB 393)
• USCGC Hornbeam (WLB 394)
• USCGC Iris (WLB 395)
• USCGC Mallow (WLB 396)
• USCGC Mariposa (WLB 397)
• USCGC Redbud (WLB 398)
• USCGC Sagebrush (WLB 399)
• USCGC Saliva (WLB 400)
• USCGC Sassafras (WLB 401)
• USCGC Sedge (WLB 402)
• USCGC Spar (WLB 403)
• USCGC Sundew (WLB 404)
• USCGC Sweetbrier (WLB 405)
• USCGC Acacia (WLB 406)

Juniper-class ships

Launch of the Juniper class Buoy Tender Oak WLB-211

USCG Buoy Tender Sequoia

The Juniper class uses a Differential Global Positioning System which allows maintainence of the vessel's position within a 10-meter circle in winds of up to 30 knots and waves of up to 8 feet.

• USCGC Juniper (WLB 201)
• USCGC Willow (WLB 202)
• USCGC Kukui (WLB 203)
• USCGC Elm (WLB 204)
• USCGC Walnut (WLB 205)
• USCGC Spar (WLB 206)
• USCGC Maple (WLB 207)
• USCGC Aspen (WLB 208)
• USCGC Sycamore (WLB 209)
• USCGC Cypress (WLB 210)
• USCGC Oak (WLB 211)
• USCGC Hickory (WLB 212)
• USCGC Fir (WLB 213)
• USCGC Hollyhock (WLB 214)
• USCGC Sequoia (WLB 215)
• USCGC Alder (WLB 216)