[2][3][4][5][6] Wind-class icebreakers had hulls of unprecedented strength and structural integrity, with a relatively short length in proportion to the great power developed, a cut away forefoot, rounded bottom, and fore, aft and side heeling tanks.

On 21 February 1945 the ship was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed Severni Polius (North Pole, Russian: Северный Полюс).

[7][8] On 19 December 1951, the ship was returned to the United States Coast Guard,[7][8] and recommissioned as the Westwind on 22 September 1952 after a refit.

[8] Starting 30 September 1954, the ship participated in a 121-day Arctic cruise, returning to New York Harbor, Brooklyn Navy Yard.

In 1964 the Westwind arrived in the area of United States Coast Guard LORAN Station Cape Atholl, Greenland, returning from this Arctic cruise on 18 August of that year.

On 3 March 1967, as part of Deep Freeze 67, the ship crossed the Antarctic Circle at 67S 36W and assisted Navy Seabees building a scientific station on Palmer Peninsula.

Between 1974 and 1975 the ship underwent an extensive refit to strengthen the bow, replace engines, change propeller shafts, and received a new "Icebreaker Red" paint scheme.

On 29 August 1979 [Coast Guard Day], again in the Arctic, the Westwind reached 83.45 degrees North Latitude, the farthest any U.S. surface vessel had ever penetrated.

[11] The crewman, transferred to the USCGC Polar Sea returning from Antarctica in 1988, saw the Westwind and the CCGS Labrador moored to a pier in Honolulu.