COAST GUARD CUTTERS
COAST GUARD CUTTERS
HIGH-ENDURANCE CUTTERS (WHEC)
BRIEFING: The large cutters of the 378-foot Secretary class formed
the mainstay of the Coast Guard cutter force from the 1970s into the
2010s. Twelve were built, six remain in service. The vessels’ high-endurance capabilities enable them to conduct long-range operations and serve as command platforms in support of a variety of missions, particularly maritime security. Due to their age, maintenance
and upkeep of these vessels has become an increasing challenge in
recent years, and they are being replaced by the Legend-class
National Security Cutters (NSCs). Hamilton and Chase were decommissioned in 2011 and transferred to the Philippines and Nigeria,
respectively. Dallas and Jarvis were decommissioned in 2012 and
transferred to the Philippines and Bangladesh, respectively. Gallatin
was decommissioned in March 2014 and has been transferred to the
Nigerian Navy. Rush was decommissioned in March 2015 and transferred to the Bangladesh Navy. Boutwell will be decommissioned in
February 2016 and transferred to the Philippines.
Secretary Class
DISPLACEMENT: ......... 3,300 tons full load
LENGTH:......................378 feet
BEAM: .......................... 43 feet
SPEED:......................... 29 knots
POWER PLANT: ........... 2 diesel engines, 7,000 bhp, 2 gas turbines,
2 controllable-pitch propellers
RANGE:........................ 12,000 nautical miles at 14 knots
ARMAMENT: ................ 1 Mk75 76mm gun, 2 Mk38 25mm guns,
1 Phalanx MK 15 Close-In Weapons System
(CIWS), 2 .50-caliber machine guns
AIRCRAFT:................... 1 H- 65 helicopter
COMPLEMEN T: ............ 162
BUILDER:.....................Avondale Shipyards
Homeport
WHEC 717 Mellon............................................................Seattle, Wash.
WHEC 719 Boutwell.....................................................San Diego, Calif.
WHEC 720 Sherman ....................................................San Diego, Calif.
WHEC 722 Morgenthau ...............................................Honolulu, Hawaii
WHEC 724 Munro ..........................................................Kodiak, Alaska
WHEC 726 Midgett..........................................................Seattle, Wash.
NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTERS (WMSL)
BRIEFING: The 418-foot Legend class, the most technologically
advanced cutters the Coast Guard has ever owned, features mod-
ern command, control, communications, computers, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, including the
SPQ-9B fire-control radar, Mk46 electro-optical infrared sensor and
SLQ- 32 electronic warfare system. The main armament is the
Mk110 57mm gun, also installed on the Navy’s littoral combat ship.
The cutters are able to launch and recover helicopters up to the size
of the H- 60, but cannot hangar an H- 60. They feature a stern ramp
to launch and recover two classes of rigid-hull inflatable (RHIB)
cutter boats: the 35-foot Long-Range Interceptor II (LRI-II) and 26-
foot Cutter Boat Over-the-Horizon IV (CB-OTH-IV). The NSC can
carry a total of three boats: one LRI-II and two CB-OTH-IVs.
The first NSC, Bertholf, was commissioned in 2008 and com-
pleted its first extended operations in 2009. The fifth NSC, James,
was commissioned on Aug. 8, 2015. Munro is nearing completion
and Kimball and Midgett are in the early stages of construction.
Legend Class
DISPLACEMENT: ......... 4,500 tons full load
LENGTH:......................418 feet
BEAM: .......................... 54 feet
SPEED:......................... 28 knots
POWER PLANT:........... 1 gas-turbine engine, 2 diesel engines
RANGE:........................ 12,000 nautical miles at economical speed
ARMAMENT: ................ 1 Mk110 57mm gun, 1 Phalanx MK 15 CIWS,
4 M2 .50-caliber machine guns
AIRCRAFT:................... 2 MH- 65 or 1 MH- 60 helicopter or
2 unmanned aerial vehicles
COMPLEMENT: ............ 126
BUILDERS:...................Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls
Shipbuilding
Homeport
WMSL 750 Bertholf .......................................................Alameda, Calif.
WMSL 751 Waesche ......................................................Alameda, Calif.
WMSL 752 Stratton .......................................................Alameda, Calif.
WMSL 753 Hamilton.....................................................Charleston, S.C.
WMSL 754 James ........................................................Charleston, S.C.
WMSL 755 Munro (under construction) ...............future: Alameda, Calif.
WMSL 756 Kimball (under construction)............future: Honolulu, Hawaii
WMSL 757 Midgett (under construction)...........future: Honolulu, Hawaii
MEDIUM-ENDURANCE CUTTERS (WMEC)
BRIEFING: The 13 270-foot Famous-class and 14 210-foot
Reliance-class cutters form the two primary classes of WMECs.
One unique WMEC, Alex Haley, is in service in Alaska. Like the
WHECs, they support a variety of missions.
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JAMES LEGEND CLASS
MIDGETT SECRETARY CLASS
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