USCGC Cape Horn was a 95-foot (29 m) type "C" Cape-class cutter constructed at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland, in 1958 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat.

[3] The Cape-class cutter was designed originally for use as a shallow-draft anti-submarine warfare (ASW) craft and was needed because of the increased tension brought about by the Cold War.

She towed the disabled fishing vessel Blue Fin from 170 nmi (310 km) east of Cape Cod to Nantucket on 7 September 1968.

on 1 February, she escorted the distressed fishing vessel Leroy 83 nmi (154 km) south-southwest of Newport, Rhode Island, to that port.

On 2 May she responded to a distress call with USCGC Cape Cross from the fishing vessel Stella Maris 110 nmi (200 km) east of Nantucket and both cutters escorted her to Newport.

[1][4] On 7 February 1980, Cape Horn rescued six crewmen from the Gloucester, Massachusetts based fishing vessel Hattie Rose which was taking on water in 25-foot seas and 45-knot winds 15 nmi (28 km) east of Provincetown.

[1] In 1982, Cape Horn underwent a major overhaul at the Coast Guard Yard, where her main drive engines were replaced and crew habitability was improved.