US Coast Guard, News, Reports, Data, etc.

Excellent force the USG to curtail any offensive grab of territorial waters in the Artic region ... an area Russia (who had already submerged its "claiming" flag under the icy waters). Putin & his cohorts are eyeing the oil & raw materials.

Air Force Brat said:

Outstanding Jeff, the Coast Guards white/recognition orange paint is definetly cool on the traditional cutters, and C-130s, as well as the awesome choppers.

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Equation said:

Thanks for the thread Jeff. Say do you think the US Coast Guard will ever possess a submarine for search and rescue purposes in the future?

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I just do not see it.

They will leave submarine service to the US Navy I believe...though it would present a good opportunity to get some decent D/E AIP boats into US service and test them out.

I just do not think the Coast Guard will ever make such a proposal. it would be a fairly radical departure from their traditional equipment.

The US Coast Guard operates over 200 fixed wing and rotary aircraft for maritime patrol, search and rescue, law enforcement, Homeland security, and maritime environmental missions.

These include the following types of aircraft:


HC-130 Herculese - 30 aircraft (24 "H", 6 "J")

These large, four-engined, long-range maritime patrol and search and rescue aircraft perform overwater search missions, support airlift, maritime patrol, North Atlantic Ice Patrol and command and control of search and rescue operations for the US Coast Guard.

Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches
Length: 99 feet, 7 inches
Height: 38 feet, 8 inches
Wing Area: 1,745 square feet
Power Plant:
- 4 x 4,910 hp Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines
Cruising Speed: 374 mph
Service Ceiling: 33,000 feet
Range: 2,487 miles
Weight Empty: 75,743 pounds
Gross Weight: 175,000 pounds


HC-144A Ocean Sentry - 18 aircraft

These medium sized, medium ranged maritime patrol are twin-engined aircraft and perform search-and-rescue and maritime patrol missions for the US Coast Guard, including command and control of such operations. Originally 36 were planned, but when the US Air force placed its new C-27J aircraft in storage, the Coast Guard stopped the production of the HC-144A at 18 aircraft and took delivery of 14 of the C-27J aircraft.

Wing Span: 84 feet 8 inches
Length: 70 feet, 2 inches
Power Plant:
- 2 x 1,750 shp (1,305kW) GE CT7-9C3 turboprops
Cruising Speed: 315 knots
Range: 2,000 nautical miles
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 36,380 pounds


HC-27J Spartan - 14 Aircraft

These medium sized, medium ranged maritime patrol are also a twin-engined aircraft and perform search-and-rescue and maritime patrol missions for the US Coast Guard, including command and control of such operations. These fourteen aircraft were obtained from a US Air Force order which placed the brand new aircraft in storagem and were transferred to the US Coast Guard in lieu of purchasing the last 18 HC-144A aircraft.

Wing Span: 94 feet 2 inches
Length: 74 feet, 6 inches
Power Plant:
- 2 x 4,640 shp (3,460kw) Rolls-Royce AE2100-D2A turboprops
Cruising Speed: 230 knots
Range: 2,300 nautical miles
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 67,240 pounds


C-37A Gulfstream V - 2 aircraft

The US Coast Guard operates two of these "ultra-long range" executive aircraft. They are capable of carrying up to 16 people in standard seating configurations, and able to fly up to 6,500 nmi (12,000 km). The Coast Guard uses them to transport high ranking individuals, including the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard Commandant, in their travels.

Wingspan: 93 feet, 6 inches
Length: 96 feet, 5 inches
Height: 25 feet, 10 inches
Power Plant:
- 2 x 14,750-pound thrust BMW-Rolls-Royce BR710-48 turbofan engines
Cruising Speed: Mach 0.8 or 459 knots
Ceiling: 54,000 feet
Range: 5,500 miles
Gross Weight: 90,900 pounds


MH-60T Jayhawk - 42 aircraft

The MH-60 Jayhawk is an all weather, mulit-mission, medium-range helicopter similar to the Navy MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters. They perform maritime patrol, search and rescue, law enforcement, armed interdiction, military readiness and marine environmental protection missios fot the US Coast Guard.The Jayhawk is is designed to fly a crew of four up to 300 mi (483 km) offshore, or away from the vessel upon which it is based, hoist up to 6 additional people on board while remaining on-scene for up to 45 minutes and return to base while maintaining an adequate fuel reserve.

Rotor Diameter: 53ft 8in
Length: 64ft 10in
Height: 17ft
Main Rotor Disc Area: 2,261 sq ft
Power Plant:
- 2 x 1,560 shp GE T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines
Max Speed: 180 knots
Service Ceiling: 18,000 ft
Range: 700 nautical miles
Weight Empty: 14,500 lbs
Gross Weight: 21,884 lbs
Armament:
- 1 x 7.62mm M240J machine gun
- 1 x 7.62mm shoulder-fired precision rifle
- 1 x .50-caliber shoulder-fired precision rifle



MH-65 Dolphin - 100 aircraft

The MH-65 Dolphin is the US Coast Guard's short range recovery (SRR) air-sea rescue helicopter. It is optimised for the USCG's search and rescue role and is able to perform water landings. But the Dolphin is also a multi-mission helicopter, capable of use for homeland security patrols, cargo trabnsport, drug interdiction, ice breaking, and military readiness exercises. The MH-65 normally carries a crew of four: Pilot, Copilot, Flight Mechanic and Rescue Swimmer.


The MH-65 is easily recognized by its Fenestron tail rotor, embedded into the vertical stabilizor of the aircraft. Its autopilot capabilities allow it to complete an unaided approach to the water and bring the aircraft into a stable 50 ft (15 m) hover, or automatically fly search patterns, this is an important safety features which allows the crew to engage in other tasks, like more dedicated search or medical tasks.


Rotor Diameter: 39ft 2in
Length: 44ft 5in
Height: 13ft 5in
Power PlantMH-65C
- 2 x 853 shp Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CG has turbine engines
Max Speed: 175 knots
Cruising Speed: 148 knots
Service Ceiling ~10,000 ft
Range: 290 nautical miles
Gross Weight:9,480 lbs
Armament:
- 1 x 7.62mm M240J machine gun
- 1 x 7.62mm shoulder-fired precision rifle
- 1 x .50-caliber shoulder-fired precision rifle

Future Plans:

The US Coast Guard has plans to add unmanned aircraft to its fleet of aircraft over the next several years.

At this point, plans include adding a US Coast Guard version of either the Global Hawk or Triton high endurance, high altitude (HEA) martitime surveillance and patrol aircraft which would be land based.

In addition, a small unmanned surveillance aircraft would be deployed aboard the National Defense and Offshore Patrol Cutters.

Currently plans call for the Scan Eagle UAS aircraft to be purchased and deployed. Purchasing them in 2015 and deploying them in 2016. In 2013, during an at sea test aboard USCGC Bertholf, WMSL-750, a Scan Eagle that was being tested at the time was used actively to pinpont, track, and guide US COast Guard assets to a large drug trafficing yacht and confiscate and destroy over 1,000 lbs of cocaine.

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Naval Today said:

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754) on Saturday. James is the company’s fifth NSC and is expected to deliver in 2015.

“Our learning curve continues to improve in this program, and the hot production line certainly provides a foundation for this progress to continue,” said Jim French, Ingalls’ NSC program manager. “We are able to provide an affordable ship for our customer while providing a capable ship to the Coast Guard fleet. Our shipbuilders’ effective and efficient work ensures the men and women who will serve on this ship, a high-quality product that will be a valuable asset for our nation for many years to come.”

Ingalls’ launch process moves the ship on rail cars over to the company’s drydock. The dock is moved away from the pier and then flooded to float the ship. Tugs then guide the ship to its berthing area where it will complete construction.

“We have an outstanding shipbuilding team who worked tirelessly to make certain this translation process and launch were completed as proficiently as possible,” said NSC 5 Ship Program Manager Jim McKinney. “Now we look forward to completing the construction so we can take her to sea next year and deliver another outstanding NSC to the Coast Guard.”

The first three NSCs have been commissioned, and the 4th, USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) will undergo sea trials this summer and is expected to deliver later this year. Ingalls’ sixth NSC, Munro (WMSL 755), began construction late last year and will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2015. The seventh ship, Kimball (WMSL 756), is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2018.

Legend-class NSCs are the flagships of the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. Designed to replace the 378 foot Hamilton-class High-Endurance Cutters that entered service during the 1960s. The Legend class vessels are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 110.

NSCs are capable of meeting all maritime security mission needs required of the High-Endurance Cutter. They include an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats and a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft. The Legend class is the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the Coast Guard, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defense missions. NSCs play an important role enhancing the Coast Guard’s operational readiness, capacity and effectiveness at a time when the demand for their services has never been greater.

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Here's a GREAT pic of five large US Coat Guard, High Endurance/National Security Cutters, all berthed at Coast Guard Island in California.

The US Coast Guard Deep water recapitalization program is a project that is replacing the several classes of cutters in the US Coast Guard inventory, many of which are 30 and more years old, with new, modern designs.

This includes the new, large National Security Cutters, the numerous Offshore Patrol Cutters, and the large number of Fast Response Cutters. Current status of the program is as follows:


NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER (Legend Class):

Eight of these large US Coast Guard Cutters are planned to replace the twelve Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutters (WHEC), eight of which are still in service. At this point five have been launched, three are commissioned with a fourth being commissioned later this year (2014). The sixth is building.

Displacement: 4,600 tons full load
Length: 418 feet
Beam: 54 feet
Draft: 23 feet

USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) Launched: September 2006 Commissioned: August 2008
USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) Launched: July 2008 Commissioned: May 2010
USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) Launched: July 2010 Commissioned: March 2012
USCGC Hamilton (WMSL-753) Launched: August 2013 Commissioned: December 2014 -planned
USCGC James (WMSL-754) Launched: May 2015 Commissioned: 2015 - planned
USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) - Building
USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756) - Funded
USCGC Midgett (WMSL-757) - Planned


OFFSHORE PATROL CUTTER:

Twenty-five of these large vessels are planned. They are not as large as the National Security Cutters, but are nonetheless, frigate sized vessels. These vessels will replace the twenty-seven Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC) used by the US Coast Guard which are comprised of the thriteen Famous Class cutters (all currently in service) and the sixteen Reliance Class cutters (14 of which are still in service).

Diplacement: 2,500-3,00 tons
Length: 300 feet (approx.)
Beam: 42 feet (approx)
Draft: 16-18 feet (approx.)

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded three contracts for preliminary and contract design of the Offshore Patrol Cutter. The contracts were awarded to Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC (Lockport, La.), Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. (Panama City, Fla.), and General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine). Two firms will be narrowed down to a detail design and construction award sometime in 2015. In that phase, the two finalists will build their respective designs and theCoast Guard will pick a winner, probably sometime in the 2018-2019 time frame..


FAST RESPONSE CUTTER: (Sentinnel Class)

These cutters are smaller, armed sea-going cutters of which fifty eight are planned. They will replace the Island Class Patrol Boats (WPB) of which forty-nine were built and forty-one remain in commission. To date, nine have been launched and eight are in commission, with five others building.

Dipslacement: 350 tons
Length: 154 feet
Beam: 27 feet
Draft: 10 feet

Bernard C. Webber WPC-1101 Launched: April 2011 Commissioned: April 2012
Richard Etheridge WPC-1102 Launched: August 2011 Commissioned: August 2012
William Flores WPC-1103 Launched: November 2011 Commissioned: November 2012
Robert Yered WPC-1104 Launched: November 2012 Commissioned: February 2013
Margaret Norvell WPC-1105 Launched: January 2013 Commissioned: June 2013
Paul Clark WPC-1106 Launched: May 2913 Commissioned: August 2013
Charles David WPC-1107 Launched: August 2013 Commissioned: November 2013
Charles W. Sexton WPC-1108 Launched: December 2013 Commissioned: March 2014
Kathleen Moore WPC-1109 Launched: March 2014 Commissioned: July 2014 - planned
Raymond Evans[35] WPC-1110 - Building
William Trump WPC-1111 - Building
Isaac Mayo WPC-1112 - Building
Richard Dixon WPC-1113 - Building
Heriberto Hernandez WPC-1114 - Building
Joseph Napier WPC-1115 - Funded
Winslow W. Griesser WPC-1116 - Funded
Richard H. Patterson WPC-1117 - Funded
Joseph Tezanos WPC-1118 - Funded
Rollin A. Fritch WPC-1119 - Funded
Lawrence O. Lawson WPC-1120 - Funded
John F. McCormick WPC-1121 - Funded
Bailey T. Barco WPC-1122 - Funded
Benjamin B. Dailey WPC-1123 - Funded
Donald H. Horsley WPC-1124 - Funded
Jacob L. A. Poroo WPC-1125 - Funded

USCG C-130 bases

Coast Guard
The Coast Guard has also plans to recapitalize its entire fleet with HC-130J aircraft. The current
fleet has an average age of 28 years, making the HC-130Hs increasingly difficult to maintain and
sustain operationally. The current program of record for the Coast Guard is for 22 HC-130Js.56 To
date; six have been delivered and are stationed at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The
next three are schedule to be delivered to Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii.57 This number has
been consistently mentioned as the Coast Guard requirement. With the FY2014 NDAA
transferring 14 C-27J aircraft from the Air Force to the Coast Guard, this requirement for 22 HC-
130s may change

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US Coast Guard cutter, Hamilton, WMSL 753, the 4th National Security Cutter completes successful sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico.


The 5th, USCGC James (WMSL-754), was launched in May and will be christened in August. The 6th, USCGC Munro (WMSL-755), is building and will launch in 2015. The 7th, USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756), is under contract, and the eigth, USCGC Midgett (WMSL-757), is being funded.

These are exceptional Coast Guard cutters.

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Naval Today said:

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the company’s fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC), James (WMSL 754) on August 16.

Charlene James Benoit, great-great niece of the ship’s namesake, Capt. Joshua James, is the ship sponsor. At the culmination of the ceremony, Benoit smashed a bottle across the bow of the ship, proclaiming, “May God bless this ship and all who sail in her.”

“The boundaries surrounding illegal migrant activity, weapons, drug smuggling and terrorism continue to blur and converge,” said Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the ceremony’s principal speaker. “The challenges created by that convergence require a 21st century Joshua James. We need his spirit and his adherence to our values. We need his adaptability, his staying power and his multi-mission focus.

“As we take Joshua James’ legacy with us from the 19th century into the future, we do so in the face of one of the most challenging times in Coast Guard history,” Neffenger continued. “New challenges, driven by complex and uncertain times, require new ways of thinking, new strategies and the right platforms for 21st century mission execution. Platforms like the National Security Cutter.”

Speaking of the Ingalls shipbuilders, HII CEO and President Mike Petters said, “Like Capt. James, we are not motivated by notoriety, distinction or fame. The work is its own reward. We love building these ships, and we would love to build more. And we love knowing they help save lives—while also protecting our American way of life.”

Ingalls has delivered three NSCs, and three more, including James, are currently under construction. A seventh NSC, Kimball WMSL 756, is scheduled to begin construction in early 2015. James is scheduled to deliver next summer.

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Coast Guards of various countries closely followed the US Coast Guard (USCG). Various CGs of countries have even painted the Large Red Stripe similar to USCG, on the bow of each of their vessel. The US Coast Guard is exemplary & truly the Leading Coast Guard in the world - BZ.