Monthly Archives: August 2010

Mission Modules, a Possible CG System?

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For those who might be interested, here is a “pdf” with a bit of information on how the Navy is implementing their mission module concept on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Unfortunately the information only covers the 30 mm gun and 60 round missile system. They are also developing mission modules for ASW and Mine Warfare.

I like the concept for the Coast Guard, in that it provides a way for Cutters to be designed to be armed for wartime missions without the service bearing the cost of maintenance, training, and personnel in peacetime. It might be applicable to the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and possibly other cutters, such as future icebreakers and arctic patrol cutters.

There have been some difficulties with the surface to surface missile (SSM) system being developed for the LCS, the non-line-of-sight launch system (NLOS-LS), which began as an Army project, but which has now been taken over by the Navy. There is a relative recent summary of the status of the project here. It does seem the Navy is going to develop something to fill this perceived need, as well as the existing hole in the decks of the LCSs. There is some additional pictures and information here. If the Navy does get NLOS-LS working, it may also be useful on much smaller vessels. Looks like a 15 round launcher might fit on the FRC.

China’s Coast Guards

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Information Dissemination has an article about the Coast Guard’s counterparts in China. Five agencies share the Coast Guard’s missions: China Maritime Surveillance (CMS) of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC), Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of the Ministry of Transport, the anti-smuggling force of the General Administration of Customs, and their “Coast Guard” (aka Maritime Police in Chinese). All seem to be expanding, particularly China Maritime Surveillance and the Maritime Safety Administration.

The article talks almost exclusively about their cutters, including new construction. Apparently they don’t have many aircraft. There is no comprehensive list of personnel. Individually each is smaller than the USCG, but it sounds like collectively, they may have more personnel than the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Meets With Potential OPC Builders, But No Rush

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Federal Times reports the Coast Guard is meeting with ship builders interested in participating in the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, August 10-20. The plan is to build 25 ships to replace the entire existing fleet of WMECs (29 ships if I count right).

Federal Times quotes Carl McGill, surface systems chief for the Coast Guard and the OPC contracting officer, “After this round of talks is concluded, the next event for the OPC program will be an industry day, probably in November. A draft request for proposals is expected to be released “early next year,” McGill said, with a pre-solicitation conference to be held about a month later.

“Sometime next year three shipyards should receive Coast Guard contracts to prepare detailed OPC designs — an effort expected to take up to two years. A down-select to one shipyard is expected to be made in late 2014 or early 2015. The first OPCs are expected to be delivered in 2018 or 2019.”

And the oldest 210s will be how old then? 54 years old. Not to mention Acushnet and Alex Haley.

And when do we expect to see Arctic Patrol Cutters? And new Ice Breakers? Icebreaking tugs? Inland buoy tenders?

Are we behind the power curve? I know this is not the fault of the current administration, but we don’t seem to be making our case before Congress. Want to stimulate the economy. Ship building is a good way. We fought WWII in half the time it will take before we see the first OPC, and we did design and build a few ships during that time.

Think our MECs are having problems now, wait five years, no wait eight or nine.

And shouldn’t we really be building 33 to replace all the MECs and the short fall in 378 replacements.

We have to do better.

Operation Dragoon, the Invasion of Southern France, 15 Aug. 1944

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The Naval History and Heritage Command reminded those who follow it, that, today is the anniversary of Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. They featured USS Samuel Chase (APA-56), a Coast Guard manned attack transport. USS Samuel Chase also participated in the invasion of North Africa (8 Nov. 1942), the invasion of Sicily (10 July 1943), the invasion of Italy at Salerno (9 Sept. 1943), and the Normandy invasion (6 June 1944). She also managed to spend some time off Okinawa after the invasion while kamikazes were still a danger (24 July-10 Aug. 1945). She was also used for Operation “Magic Carpet” the return of American service men to US.

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8 new photos

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There were probably a number of other Coast Guard and Coast Guard manned ships involved in Operation Dragoon as well. One, the 327, USCGC Duane (WPG-33/WAGC-6/WHEC-33) (my old ship) served as flag ship of one of the six Naval Task Forces.

More on Operation Dragoon here.

Hovercraft

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It has been quite a while since the Coast Guard tried using hovercraft. It may be time to have another look. Here is an interesting video (sales pitch) about how other services are using hovercraft. Many of the users in the video are in areas where ice and snow covered surfaces are common. With the Arctic opening up, there might be a place for these craft there.

The Indian Coast Guard has had some experience with these craft and have decided to triple their fleet to 18 craft.

Not that we would want them everywhere, but perhaps for some environments, they would be just what we need.

USCGC Spencer (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-36) Legacy

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Nice piece about the current Spencer (WMEC- 905) honoring a sailor from the previous Spencer (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-36).

The earlier Spencer was unique in Coast Guard history, in that she is believed to have sunk at least two U-boats.

For some excellent photos of all seven of the 327s, from construction through the end of World War II, the Coast Guard Historian has a nice collection of photos with commentary showing their changing configuration.

Chinese Claim the entire South China Sea as Sovereign Territory.

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As noted earlier, there doesn’t seem to be universal agreement on what the “Law of the Sea” (UNCLOS) means. The Washington Post is reporting that Senior Col. Geng Yansheng, a Ministry of Defense spokesman, has claimed that China has “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea but would continue to allow others to freely navigate the 1.3 million-square-mile waterway.

On July 23 Secretary Clinton crossed the Chinese by suggesting an multilateral approach to resolution of competing claims. Competing claims involve Japan, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines. Claims to the Spratley Islands group seem to be particularly contentious. There is an outline of competing claims here. China has used force in the past, seizing the Paracel Islands from Vietnam in 1976. Dai Bingguo, China’s state councilor in charge of foreign policy, had told Secretary Clinton in May during a tense exchange on the region that China viewed its claims to the sea as a “core national interest.” In addition they seem to have thrown down the gauntlet to the US over exercises in the Yellow Sea.

To complicate matters, the Chinese have a new weapon system, and anti-ship ballistic missile, to enforce their claims, that makes the Navy’s traditional response to Chinese aggressiveness appear much more dangerous.