Webber Class WPC Homeports

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FRC-graphic

Click on the graphic to enlarge

The Acquisitions Directorate has a story on the commissioning of the 17th Webber class WPC, USCGC Donald Horsley (WPC-1117).

Included in the post was the graphic above, which gives us an indication of where future cutters will be homeported:

  • Ketchikan, AK
  • San Pedro, CA
  • Pascagoula, MS
  • Atlantic Beach, NC
  • Cape May, NJ

One more WPC is expected to go to San Juan, so in about six months we should see a Webber class go to Ketchikan. Certainly its improved sea keeping compared to the 110s will be appreciated.

This is not, I’m sure, a complete list of future homeports, given that we expect 41 more of this class. I’m not privy to the home porting plan or how many will be in each port, but this looks like it will cover at least the next 18 months. It may cover a much longer period if more than one Webber class will be assigned to some of these ports, and that seems likely.

I would note that these homeports look good from a Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security perspective. Ketchikan and the inland passage has a lot of cruise ship traffic. San Pedro is near the huge Los Angeles port complex and the strategic ports of Long Beach and Port Hueneme. Pascagoula based ships potentially protect the ports of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico including the eastern approaches to the Mississippi River port complex and the strategic port of Gulf Port, MS. Atlantic Beach, NC is close to Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras, but it is also close to the strategic ports of Morehead City, Sunny Point, and Wilmington. WPCs in Cape May, NJ could provide protection for Delaware Bay, including the strategic port of Philadelphia.

If any of our readers has access to the homeporting plan, and it is public knowledge, I would appreciate the information.

57 thoughts on “Webber Class WPC Homeports”

    • The dot on the Gulf Coast is Pascagoula, but good point about Honolulu.

      I have also heard some are going to Guam, a very important port, but for the Navy, homeport only for SSNs and a helicopter squadron. Some Marine units are moving there from Okinawa. Also a “strategic port.”

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    • The Coast Guard does not use the frigate or corvette designation. All Coast Guard vessels 65 feet and larger are referred to as cutters, every thing smaller is a boat. Within the cutter classification we have subclasses. Since the ’60s we have used “High Endurance” (WHEC) and “Medium Endurance” (WMEC) to characterize our largest patrol cutters. More information about designations here: https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2013/08/19/ship-type-designations/

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      • 378 foot Hamilton class cutters that have been transferred to other navies have generally been referred to as frigates. Huntington Ingalls, makers of the new Bertholf class, refer to them as patrol frigates in their marketing.

  8. Below is a news release quoted fully. “US Coast Guard to base 2 new cutters in Astoria, Oregon” (U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/28/2017 04:31 PM EDT)

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday it will homeport two of the service’s new Sentinel-Class 154-foot Fast Response Cutters (FRC) in Astoria, Oregon, starting in 2021. These two ships have not yet been named, but the FRCs are named after enlisted Coast Guard personnel who distinguished themselves in the line of duty.
    Each of the two Astoria-based FRCs will provide the coastal maritime community with a 30 percent increase in annual operating hours on regional waters over the Coast Guard’s legacy 110-foot Island class patrol boats like the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas, homeported in Coos Bay, Oregon.
    The FRC is equipped with improved command and control capability as well as increased sea-keeping abilities, operational range, a larger crew and higher transit speeds than the aging110-foot patrol boats. A larger, more capable stern launch cutter boat allows the FRC to conduct search-and-rescue and interdiction operations up to 50 miles away from the cutter, which greatly extends the vessel’s reach over the Coast Guard’s legacy patrol boat fleet.
    The Orcas will continue to operate from its homeport in Coos Bay until its service is replaced by the first of the Astoria-based FRCs in 2021.
    The Coast Guard is presently examining potential homeport sites within Astoria for the two as-yet-to-be-named FRCs.

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  11. FRC#23 commissioned. http://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/FRC070517/
    “The Coast Guard is acquiring 58 FRCs; 44 have been ordered. Twenty-three are in service: two in Cape May, New Jersey; six in Miami; six in Key West, Florida; six in San Juan, Puerto Rico; two in Ketchikan, Alaska; and one in Pascagoula. Future FRC homeports include Honolulu; Atlantic Beach, North Carolina; and San Pedro, California.”

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  13. There was also this, “Pier, support facility, shore power modifications, and associated base infrastructure improvements to support the FRC Homeport at Galveston, TX. This homeport will accommodate a total of three FRCs. The funding will support the design and construction of
    homeport facility additions, improvements, and renovations at Galveston, TX.
    from CG-AC&I-79 (page 221 of a 407 page pdf)

    Reply ↓

    • Webber class #24, first of three in Hawaii, gets commissioned. http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2017/11/24th-fast-response-cutter-commissioned-begins-watch-over-hawaiian-islands/

      “The crew then transited more than 8,400 miles (7,300 nautical miles) to Hawaii arriving Sept. 22.
      Ultimately there will be three fast response cutters stationed at Base Honolulu by the spring of 2019. These cutters with their improved effectiveness in search and rescue will make the waters around the main Hawaiian Islands a much safer place for recreational boaters and users of the waterway. They greatly improve our on water presence with each providing over 7,500 operational hours, a 40 percent increase over the existing 110-foot patrol boats.”

      Reply ↓

  22. Military. com reports the Commandant has announced the homeports planned for four more Webber class going to Alaska, “Zukunft says two will be assigned to Kodiak and one each will be home-ported in Sitka and Seward.” In addition, “…Coast Guard also will homeport a coastal patrol boat in Petersburg and Juneau.”

    Thanks to Walter for bringing this to my attention.

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  23. FRC #29, Forrest Rednour, has been accepted and it will be going to San Pedro, CA. https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/FRC_060718/
    This marks the half way point in completion of the FRC program of record, although it is likely there will be an additional six cutters for replacement of the 110s currently used by PATFOSWA.

    “The Coast Guard has ordered 44 of the 58 FRCs planned. Twenty-seven are in service: 12 in Florida, six in Puerto Rico, two in Alaska, two in New Jersey, two in Mississippi, two in Hawaii and now one in North Carolina. Galveston, Texas is a future FRC homeport.”

    Reply ↓

    • As I get more information, I will post it here. I believe Cape May is as far North as I have seen them homeported on the Atlantic coast.

      I suspect the rationale may be that these ships are used much like MECs where the weather permits. New England weather being more challenging means they are going to continue to require MECs to do local fisheries enforcement.

      We are still only half way through the program. by the time its over we will probably have Webber class just about everywhere we had 110s. My guess is that we will see three in Woods Hole, Mass, and at least two in Portland ME.

      Reply ↓

  31. Coast Guard Accepted 32nd Fast Response Cutter, Future Benjamin Bottoms, on Jan. 8.

    https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1745313/coast-guard-accepts-32nd-fast-response-cutter/

    “The Coast Guard has ordered 50 FRCs to date. Twenty-nine are in service: 12 in Florida, six in Puerto Rico, one in California and two each in Alaska, New Jersey, Mississippi, Hawaii and North Carolina. Future FRC homeports include Galveston, Texas; Santa Rita, Guam; Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.”

    Second California Webber class will be commissioned Mar. 2. Benjamin Bottoms is the forth of four to be homeported in San Pedro, CA.

    Reply ↓

  32. March 22, 2019 news release

    SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne (WPC-1131), a California-based 154-foot Fast Response Cutter (FRC), was commissioned in San Pedro, Friday.
    The Terrell Horne is the third FRC to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles-Long Beach and will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off Mexico and Central America.
    Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III was killed by suspected drug smugglers who intentionally rammed the boat he and fellow Coast Guardsmen were aboard during law-enforcement operations near Santa Cruz Island off the Southern California coast in December 2012. Horne pushed one of his shipmates out of the way of the oncoming vessel attack and sustained fatal injuries.
    FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew. The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range Coast Guard assets such as the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutters.
    Each ship is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the Coast Guard’s overall fleet modernization initiative.
    FRCs are named in honor of Coast Guard enlisted leaders, trailblazers and heroes.
    Video of the ceremony is available at the following link: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/19036

    Reply ↓

  33. FRC #33, future USCGC Joseph Doyle (WPC-1133), accepted. I am a bit surprised to see it will be going to San Juan making this the 7th FRC to be homeported there, 19 total in CGD-7. https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1792843/coast-guard-accepts-33rd-fast-response-cutter/

    More on homeports.
    “Thirty FRCs are in service: 12 in Florida, six in Puerto Rico, two each in Alaska, New Jersey, Mississippi, Hawaii, North Carolina and California. The Coast Guard has ordered 50 of the cutters to date. Future FRC homeports include Galveston, Texas; Santa Rita, Guam; Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.”

    Looking at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel-class_cutter#Ships, it appears three will go to Galveston (WPC-1136, 1137, and 1138). WPC-1134 will make the third FRC in Honolulu. WPC-1135 will make the third FRC in Cape May. WPC-1139 will make the 7th FRC in Key West and the 20th in D7.

    Reply ↓

  36. From CG-9 https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1856861/coast-guard-accepts-34th-fast-response-cutter/

    The Coast Guard today accepted delivery of the 34th fast response cutter (FRC), William Hart, in Key West, Florida.
    The cutter will be the third of three FRCs stationed in Honolulu.
    William Hart, the cutter’s namesake, received the Gold Lifesaving Medal for his actions in November 1926. Hart was commanding officer of a boat that assisted the stranded tug Thomas Tracy, in heavy sea conditions, near the Absecon Bar in New Jersey. After it became necessary for the tug’s crew to abandon ship, Hart maneuvered his boat close to facilitate the transfer. When one of the tug’s crew members fell overboard and was in imminent danger of drowning, Hart jumped in and saved the individual at great personal risk.
    The FRCs are replacing the 1980s-era 110-foot patrol boats and feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. The cutters feature improved habitability and seakeeping, and over-the-horizon cutter boat launch and recovery from astern or via side davits. Each FRC is 154 feet long, has an endurance of at least five days and can reach a maximum speed of over 28 knots.
    Thirty-two are in service: 12 in Florida; six in Puerto Rico; four in California and two each in Alaska, New Jersey, Mississippi, Hawaii and North Carolina. The Coast Guard has ordered 50 FRCs to date. Future FRC homeports include Galveston, Texas; Santa Rita, Guam; Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.

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  37. Coast Guard press release, commissioning of 33rd FRC and 7th on homeported in San Juan,

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle (WPC-1133) was commissioned into service Saturday during a ceremony at U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    The Joseph Doyle is the thirty-third Fast Response Cutter FRC to be commissioned in the Coast Guard and the seventh to be assigned to Sector San Juan and homeported in Puerto Rico.
    “Today we make history as we welcome the USCGC Joseph Doyle and Puerto Rico is now the sector in the Coast Guard with the largest number of fast response cutters,” said Hon. Jenniffer-González-Colón. “I’m honored to be the ship’s sponsor of this beautiful cutter and that it is also commanded by a woman. This is part of the work we do in collaboration with the Coast Guard, and other agencies, so Puerto Rico can have the necessary resources to guarantee the safety of our coasts and combat illegal drug trafficking.”
    “Each fast response cutter represents an extraordinary resource which increases our search and rescue and other multi-mission capabilities in our area of responsibility,” said Captain Eric King, Commander of the Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “The Joseph Doyle will contribute to strengthening the coastal security of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as the nation’s most southern maritime border.”

    “It is an absolute honor to be the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard’s 33rd Fast Response Cutter, but more importantly the 7th Fast Response Cutter in Puerto Rico,” said Lt. Catherine Gillen. “My crew and I look forward to serving the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and keeping these beautiful islands safe.”

    The Sentinel Class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are designed to conduct maritime drug interdiction, alien migrant interdiction, search and rescue, national defense, homeland security, living marine resource protection and other Coast Guard missions. This class of patrol boat is capable of deploying independently to execute Coast Guard missions and prevent potential threats from approaching that nation’s shores and offers vastly improved capabilities over the aging 110-foot Island-class patrol boats it replaces.

    The FRC is part of the Coast Guard’s layered approach to maritime security that includes the National Security Cutter and the Offshore Patrol Cutter. The FRC’s are 154-feet long with a beam of 25 feet and they can transit at a maximum sustained speed of 28 knots. They are armed with a stabilized 25mm machine-gun mount and four .50-caliber machine guns.

    Each FRC is named for a Coast Guard hero who distinguished him or herself in the line of duty. The namesake of today’s commissioned cutter is Coast Guard hero Captain Joseph O. Doyle. Doyle was born in 1836. On July 11, 1878, he was appointed keeper of the Charlotte, New York Life Saving Station. During 1878, he achieved two impressive rescues. The first was the wreck of the schooner B.P. Dorr of Chicago, which was discovered September 11, 1878. At 9:30 p.m. the ship stranded about one mile west of Doyle’s station. The vessel was visible by the flare of a strong torch on board despite the rain. With the six men and the women on board, the vessel safely and swiftly was returned to the beach under the steady oar of the keeper. The second rescue in which Doyle showed his great skill and bravery involved the wreck of the schooner Star of Millpoint, Ontario Canada on Oct. 23, 1878.

    Captain Doyle was awarded the Gold Life Saving Medal for his heroic actions in the conduct of both rescues.

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  38. so far it looks like no frc’s will be north of cape may, at least on the east coast. or I missed something.

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  39. Off-season solicitation on ALCGENL indicates that WPC-1139 Myrtle Hazard will be the first FRC homeported in Guam. The bulletin lists a delivery date of 2 June 2020, so probably 2 to 4 months after that for commissioning.

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      • Tweet today from ADM Schultz confirms 3 FRCs to Guam:

        “We are growing our @USCG presence & capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. Yesterday, we broke ground on a support facility for 3 new Fast Response Cutters, which will be stationed in Guam & patrol throughout the region protecting U.S. national security & economic interests.” (22 JUL 2019)

        With those 3, plus 2 confirmed in Astoria OR and 4 more in Alaska, would take us to hull 47. If 4-6 go to PATFORSWA as suggested, that is most of the current contract. But I expect this program will be extended. It makes too much sense to put 2 or 3 in Port Angeles WA. There is a strong case to be made for 3 or 4 FRC homeports from Bayonne NJ to Portland ME. They might choose to homeport 2 or 3 in American Samoa and have them handle fisheries treaty patrols rather than continuing to diverting WMSLs and WHECs to handle them. And assigning a 7th to San Juan recently would seem to indicate they expect the Webbers to keep living their best lives in the Gulf of Mexico, so there could be more headed to Key West, Miami, Pascalouga, and Galveston.

        We’ll see more than the 58-64 currently planned, I think.

    • Program of record is still 58 but the boats that will go to PATFORSWA do not count against that so I am figuring at least 64. Would not be surprised to see a group go to Singapore to support 7th Fleet. These little ships are proving very useful. A 20th FRC is planned for the 7th District.

      In the relatively quiet waters of the 7th District they can function almost like WMECs, so it makes sense to put them there first and operate WMECs in the more demanding conditions.

      There will definitely be Congressional pressure to continue the program, just as there was with the NSC. With some 87′ WPBs being decommissioned about 2021, if I remember correctly, there may be pressure to replace 87 footers with FRCs.

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      • I wonder if the build-up of FRCs in D7 is just a stop-gap until some OPCs can be commissioned and stationed there?

      • Bill, Looks to me like the FRCs are very well suited to the missions in the 7th District. Even so there are a number of WMECs in the 7th and 8th districts.

        You can see a bit of a pattern that I think is fairly clear all though there are exceptions.

        There are no 270s in the Pacific. All 13 are homeported on the Atlantic. Five in D1, six in D5, and two D7. While they also do drug patrols they are the primary asset for Atlantic fisheries patrols.

        The 210s sea keeping limits are recognized. Only three of the 14 WMEC210s are homeported are homeported in Pacific ports, all in D13. They do primarily West Coast fisheries. Eleven are homeported on the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. Only one in D1, three in D5, five in D7, and two in D8. they are well positioned to do patrols in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones.

        The NSCs have the longest legs and so do capacity building in Asia and Africa, Alaska patrol, Eastern Pacific drug patrols. Five are going to Charleston, four to Alameda, and two to Honolulu. The fact that Charleston is closer to the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones than Alameda explains why so many in Charleston.

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