Shifts in Navy Presence, What Does It Mean to the Coast Guard

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The naval centric blog Informationdissemination has an interesting series of charts that purportedly show what the Navy thinks will be typical fleet distributions in the years 2013, 2017, and 2020.

It included a couple of surprises that might impact the Coast Guard.

Apparently there will be some significant changes in the forces assigned to SouthCom (Fourth Fleet). This could reasonably be expected to impact drug enforcement operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific and Law Enforcement Detachments assigned to SouthCom Navy assets.

From five ships in 2013, typically:

  • 2 CG/DDG
  • 1 FFG
  • 1 Amphib
  • 1 Hospital Ship

In 2017, PCs and JHSVs replace the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates. The force is expected to include fourteen vessels:

  • 10 PC
  • 1  Amphib
  • 2 JHSV (Joint High Speed Vessels)
  • 1 Hospital Ship

By 2020 two LCS replace the amphib. The composition is expected to include fifteen vessels:

  • 10 PC
  • 2 LCS
  • 2 JHSV (Joint High Speed Vessels)
  • 1 Hospital Ship

The PCs are presumably Cyclone Class, because there are no new construction PCs planned for the Navy, but there is some question as to whether the Cyclone class will last until 2017 much less 2020.

The coding in the charts tell us the two JHSVs are expected to be permanently stationed in the area. (Could that mean Puerto Rico?) The other assets rotate in and out of the area. The JHSVs are fast. They have a helo deck. I haven’t seen any indication of their boat handling arrangement yet. They are basically high speed ferries, intended for intra-theater transportation. Their range is relatively limited.

The charts don’t indicate any shift in interest into the Arctic. Hard to tell if that omission is meaningful. Presumably some of the 15 ships on the West Coast (Third Fleet) could operate in the Arctic, but there is no change in the numbers on either coast in any of the three charts.

(Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the charts tell us nothing about the six WPCs currently assigned to Patrol Forces South West Asia (PATFORSWA)).

12 thoughts on “Shifts in Navy Presence, What Does It Mean to the Coast Guard”

  1. Do we really think the PATFORSWA boats will still be floating and/or USCG owned and operated in 2020?

    Also, what are the guesses on distribution between West Coast and East Coast SOUTHCOM assets?

    Could PC refer to the new 80 something Patrol Boats we’ve seen in a recent CGBlog post as opposed to the aging existing PCs?

    Reply ↓

    • Chuck’s statement is correct. No PC in SCN FYDP. The Mark VI patrol BOAT is not as a replacement for the Cyclone PCs (although the USN might dream it was~). The Mk VI is nothing more than a Super Swift boat meant mainly to perform force protection of USN assets.

      Reply ↓

    • @ WTDoor, “Do we really think the PATFORSWA boats will still be floating and/or USCG owned and operated in 2020?”

      It may take us 10 years to replace the existing 110s. Don’t know how long they can hold on. The Coast Guard is doing Mission Effectiveness Program on less than half of them and I don’t think it included any in PATFORSWA.

      Question remains, how long will PATFORSWA last and will the CG be asked to replace the 110s with Webber class.

      I threw it out there because I haven’t seen anything regarding the future of these Coasties.

      Reply ↓

  2. Chuck, the JHSVs projections are specific to the Spearhead class. As opposed to the HSFs USNS Guam will be forward deployed in Pacific/IO and USNS Puerto Rico will be in layup in NORVA.

    Note: All of the slides on ID or unofficial staff projections, and ASSUME that all LCS will be built.

    Reply ↓

  4. So, in 2020 we will have to make sure we have good towing capabilities if the Navy will actually put some LCSs in deep water.

    Reply ↓

    • I don’t think the navy will buy Webber’s. They will probably do what they did with the island class and buy extras for the coast guard,

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    • I wonder if the LCSes are falling out of favor so rapidly that SouthCom will be seen as one area they’d actually be suited for?

      Reply ↓

      • I think we will be seeing some JHSV (Joint High Speed Vessels) and not much more. The Navy is being stretched thin and there is no glory in the Drug War.

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