Homeports, 2035

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Chuck Hill

An email discussion with a reader got me to thinking about how our cutters might be homeported in the future. It started with a simple question, where would NSC #11 be homeported? Turns out it is not a simple question because first we do not yet know where nine and ten will go, but it also kicked off a lot of thought about how changes of fleet capabilities, mission, and maintenance philosophy will effect the future lay down of assets.

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This is not going to be a definitive document, but rather an exploration of considerations and possibilities.

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Why 2035? If the shipbuilding plans proceed as expected, we will not see the last Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) delivered until 2034.

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Fleet Capabilities:

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To provide I baseline, I will look back on the fleet of WHECs, WMECs and Island class WPBs as it existed before the new generation started arriving and before we lost eight Island class to the 123 foot conversion disaster and six more to a continuing commitment to South West Asia. My reference is a 2000-2001 issue of “Combat Fleets of the World” which includes a notation of cutter homeports.

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In 2035 we can expect to have 35 large patrol cutters, 36 if we get NSC#11. The fleet in 2000 had 44. The new ships are certainly far more capable, but quantity has a quality all its own. Fortunately we have another way to make up for numbers.

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The FRCs are much more capable than the 110s and approach the capabilities of the 210 foot WMECs. Additionally they will be more numerous than the 110s they are replacing. Only 49 Island class 110 foot WPBs were built, but the program of record includes 58 Webber class WPCs. The Webber class should be able to do many of the fisheries enforcement missions currently done by 210s. They have the same ship’s boat as the larger cutters and they are as seaworthy as most of the fishing vessels. The Webber class are expected to be underway for 2500 hours per year compared to 1500 hours for the Island class. The Webber class are not just “fast response cutter,” which was what the Island class were, they are at least part time, patrol assets.

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If we compare what we had in 2000, 49 Island class available 1500 hours/year for 73,500 hours, with what we are projected to have, 58 Webber class available 2500 hours/year for 145,000 hours, that is an increase of 71,500 hours. If we assume optimistically that a dedicated patrol ship is available 24 hours a day for 185 days/year, that is 4,440 hours/day so the additional 71,500 hours is the equivalent of 16.1 patrol cutters. If we give due consideration to when and where they can be used and provide land based air support, this more than makes up for the lower number of larger cutters.

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The Offshore Patrol Cutters will be far more seaworthy than the WMECs. In fact they will be at least equal to, and probably superior to the 378 foot WHECs, in terms of seakeeping. Their cruising speeds will higher than that of the 378s and their effective range of operations will be similar. Unlike the 270 and 210 foot WMECs they will be usable for Alaska Patrol.

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Mission Changes:

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I don’t expect any of our current missions to go away, but there will inevitably be a change of emphasis.

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The Eastern Pacific drug interdiction effort will likely continue, but the drug of choice may be changing from cocaine to synthetic opioids which enter the US by other routes. The Navy will also likely join the Coast Guard in Eastern Pacific drug interdiction, which may reduce the need for cutters.

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The island nations of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia will be under stress as a result of sea level rise and the effects of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. The Coast Guard is likely to be called upon to assist them.

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There will be a need to assist other coast guards and coast guard like organizations, particularly in Africa and South East Asia where they have problems with piracy, drug and human trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the Coast Guard will be increasingly asked to provide capacity building assistance.

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Maintenance Philosophy:

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The Coast Guard seems to have embraced the idea that there are benefits to basing ships in clusters. Clusters of at least three almost guarantees that there will be at least one vessel in port to benefit from the support facilities there. I think we may see many of those ports that are currently expected to host two Webber class get a third when more become available. I don’t think we will see many, or perhaps any ports, with only one Bertholf, OPC, or Webber class homeported there.

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In the Past:

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In 2000 ships were split between the Atlantic and Pacific in ways that reflected fundamental differences in the two theaters. Looking at the WHECs, WMECs, and 110 foot WPBs as surrogates for the NSCs, OPCs’ and FRCs; LANTAREA had 63 vessels (two WHECs, 26 WMECs, and 35 WPB110s), PACAREA had 30 vessels (ten WHECs, six WMECs, and 14 WPB110s). Those 93 vessels were distributed among 38 ports, 15 in PACAREA and 23 in LANTAREA.

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The Ports:

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In an earlier post, “Ruminating on Homeports While Playing the Red Cell,” I identified 30 critical ports or port complexes that are likely targets for those hostile to the US (23 in LANTAREA and seven in PACAREA), including 23 military outload ports (17 in LANTAREA and six in PACAREA). Only five of these ports have a significant Navy surface ship presence. It makes sense for us to homeport vessels, particularly the Webber class, in, near, or on the approaches to those ports where there is no Navy surface ship presence. Fortunately some of these ports are in close proximity to each other. This list of ports is repeated below. I have indicated where current planning indicates NSCs and FRCs are or will be homported in bold. This accounts for eight NSCs and 43 FRCs.

LANTAREA

CCGD1:

Bath, Me–Major Naval shipbuilder
Groton, CT–Submarine base
Hudson River complex, New York, NY/Elizabeth and Bayonne, NJ–a major cultural target, #3 US Port by tonnage, #2 Container port, #4 Cruise ship port (NYC) and #13 cruise ship port (Cape Liberty, NJ), Strategic Seaport (Elizabeth)

CCGD5–four FRCs

Delaware Bay–Strategic Seaport (Philadelphia) –two FRCs at Cape May
Chesapeake Bay Complex, VA–Base for aircraft carriers and submarines, Major naval shipbuilder, #14 port by tonnage, #7 container port; plus water route to Washington, DC (major cultural target) and Baltimore, MD–#9 port by tonnage, #10 container port, #12 cruise ship port, Strategic Seaport (Norfolk and Newport News)
Morehead City, NC–Strategic Seaport –two FRCs at near by Atlantic Beach
Cape Fear River–Strategic Seaport (Sunny Point and Wilmington, NC)

CCGD7–Two NSCs, 18 FRCs (six in Key West in addition to those indicated below)

Charleston, SC–#9 container port, #15 cruise ship port, Strategic Seaport –two NSCs
Savannah, GA–#4 container port Strategic Seaport
Jacksonville complex, FL (including Kings Bay, GA)–SSBNs, Navy Base Mayport, #14 cruise ship port, Strategic Seaport
Port Canaveral, FL–#3 Cruise Ship port
Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, FL–#13 container port, #2 Cruise Ship port
Miami, FL–#11 container port, #1 Cruise Ship port–six FRCs
San Juan, PR–#5 Cruise Ship port, #15 container port–six FRCs
Tampa, FL–#7 Cruise Ship port

CCGD8–Five FRC

Mobile, AL–major naval shipbuilder, #12 port by tonnage
Pascagoula, MS–major naval shipbuilder –two FRCs replacing Decisive.
Gulfport, MS–Strategic Seaport
Mississippi River Complex, LA–#14 container port,#10 Cruise Ship port (NOLA), #1 port by tonnage (South Louisiana), #6 port by tonnage (NOLA), #8 port by tonnage (Baton Rouge), #10 port by tonnage (Port of Plaquemines)
Lake Charles, LA–#11 port by tonnage
Sabine Pass complex (Beaumont/Port Author/Orange, TX)–#4 port by tonnage (Beaumont), Strategic Seaport (both Beaumont and Port Author)
Houston/Galveston/Texas City, TX–#2 port by tonnage (Houston), #13 port by –tonnage (Texas City), #5 container port (Houston), #6 Cruise ship port (Galveston)–Three FRC going to Galveston when Dauntless departs.
Corpus Christi, TX–#7 port by tonnage, Strategic Seaport

PACAREA

CCGD11–Four NSCs, two (assumption) FRCs

San Diego–Base for aircraft carriers and submarines, major naval shipbuilder (NASSCO), Strategic Seaport
Los Angeles/Long Beach/Port Hueneme, CA–A major cultural target, #5 port by tonnage (Long Beach), #9 port by tonnage (Los Angeles), #1 container port (Los Angeles), #3 container port (Long Beach), #9 cruise Ship port (Long Beach), #11 cruise ship port (Los Angeles), Strategic Seaport (Long Beach and Port Hueneme) –FRC(s)at San Pedro
San Francisco Bay complex–A major cultural target, #6 container port (Oakland), Strategic Seaport (Oakland and Concord) –Four NSCs

CCGD13–Two FRCs planned for Astoria, OR

Puget Sound Complex, Seattle/Tacoma, WA–Base for aircraft carriers (Bremerton), SSBNs (Bangor), and submarines, major naval bases, #8 container port (Seattle), #10 container port (Tacoma), #8 Cruise ship port (Seattle), Strategic Seaport (Indian Island and Tacoma, WA)

CCGD14–Two NSCs, Six FRCs, Two in Honolulu, + Four planned

Honolulu/Pearl Harbor–Major Naval base, including submarines–Two NSC, Two there now, Two FRCs + a third planned
Apra, Guam–Submarine Base, Strategic Seaport–Three FRCs planned

CCGD17–Six FRCs, Two in Ketchikan, + Four more planned

Anchorage, AK–Strategic Seaport

Next we will talk about where the remaining NSCs and FRCs, and where all the OPCs might be going.

Bertholf Class National Security Cutters:

In 2000 the twel

ve 378s were distributed ten to the Pacific and two to the Atlantic. Homeports in 2000 were Charleston (2), Seattle (2), Alameda (4), and Honolulu (2). The program of record was for eight National Security Cutters, but ten have been funded and it appears there may be an eleventh. Homeports for the first eight include four in Alameda, CA, two in Charleston, SC, and two in Honolulu, HI. I don’t expect that there will be any other homeports assigned. It is likely that numbers nine and ten will go to Honolulu and Charleston, bringing them to three each. This will give LANTAREA more very long range assets both to support drug interdiction and capacity building in West Africa.

Number eleven will probably go to the Pacific. Alameda could probably accept it, but I suspect a growing recognition of responsibilities in the Western Pacific will mean, if procured, it will go to Honolulu, if not initially, at least by 2035. .

Offshore Patrol Cutters:

I don’t think OPCs will go to the same ports as the NSCs. Based on where other WHECs or multiple WMECs were based (and an unused naval base at Corpus Christi), likely homeports for OPCs include:

Boston, MA
Portsmouth, VA
Key West, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Corpus Christi (Naval Station Ingelside), TX
San Diego, CA
Kodiak, AK

If we assume at least three ships in each, that accounts for 21. What of the remaining four? They could be added to the ports above or perhaps added to other ports.

I think a case can be made for putting a higher percentage of the large cutters in PACAREA. After all, less than 16.2% of the US Exclusive Economic Zone is in LANTAREA’s area of operation.

Currently there are only four medium endurance cutters in the Pacific and 24 in the Atlantic. There are only 25 OPCs in the program of record. Obviously this will not be a one for one replacement

In the year 2000 PACAREA had 16 large patrol cutters (10 WHECs and six WMECs), currently they have 13 (five NSCs, four WHECs, and four WMECs). Considering the apparent growing responsibilities of PACAREA, the projected maximum of no more eight NSCs, and the ability of the Webber class to assume some of the fisheries protection duties of the WMECs in the Atlantic, it is likely PACAREA WMECs will be replaced with OPCs on a better than one to one basis that would have left PACAREA with only 12 large patrol ships. I suspect PACAREA will be assigned at least six OPCs, and that it should have at least nine (17 of the total of 36 large ships (8 NSCs and 9 OPCs), if we get 11 NSCs homeported as above).

It is extremely likely at least two OPC will go to Kodiak to replace 378 foot WHEC Douglas Munro and 283 foot WMEC Alex Haley. It seems likely that this could ultimately grow to three OPCs. Locating them close to ALPAT areas.

San Diego was homeport to two 378s. It is closer to the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones than other Pacific ports, and it has both excellent training facilities and shipyards.

Seattle seemed a likely location for OPCs but since it is the likely homeport for three new Heavy Polar Icebreakers as well as USCGC Healy (and/or other medium icebreakers) it appears they may not have the room.

Assuming three OPCs in Kodiak and three in San Diego, if additional OPCs go to the Pacific where would they go? Additional ships in San Diego or nearby Terminal Island in San Pedro (Long Beach) appear likely.

This leaves 16 to 19 OPCs to be assigned to LANTAREA. Three each in Boston, MA, Portsmouth, VA, Key West, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Corpus Christi (Naval Station Ingelside), TX would account for 15, leaving only one to four to find a home. One more port, perhaps Miami, or just add ships to the ports above. Certainly there is space in Portsmouth and Little Creek, VA.

I will assume six in San Diego and/or San Pedro (Long Beach), four in Portsmouth, VA and three each in Boston, Key West, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Corpus Christi, TX, and Kodiak, AK.

Webber class WPCs:

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The program of record includes 58 Webber class. As noted above homeports for 39 have been identified, of the remaining 19 four will go to Alaska. Lets look at each in turn.

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CGD1

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In 2000 there were seven Island class in the First district, two in Portand, ME, two in Woods Hole, MA, one at Glouchester, MA, and two in Sandy Hook, NJ. I would presume there will be Six Webber class in the First District.

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In order to cover all the Critical port in the First District, we will probably put two in Sandy Hook, NJ to protect the Hudson River port complex, two in S. Portland, ME that would cover Bath ME and two at the East end of Long Island Sound that would protect the Sub base at Groton. Woods Hole might work, but I would hope they would be based closer either at Newport, RI or in New London.

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CGD5

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In 2000 there were only thee Island class in the Fifth district, one in Portsmouth, VA and two in Atlantic Beach, NC. We already have four Webber class going to the District, two in Cape May, NJ, and two in Atlantic Beach, NC.

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CCGD7

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In 2000 there were 23 Island class based in the Seventh district, six in Miami, seven in Key West, six in San Juan, one in Port Canaveral, and three in St. Petersburg. We already have 18 Webber class assigned to the Seventh District, six in Miami, six in Key West, and six in San Juan. Notably there are no Webber class on the Seventh District’s Gulf coast, so I would anticipate we will see three more homeported in St. Petersburg.

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CGD8

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In 2000 there were only two Island class WPBs homeported in the Eighth district, one in Mobile, AL and one in Corpus Christi, TX. We already know two will go to Pascagoula, MS, and three will go to Galveston, TX. We probably want at least two more in Corpus Christi, TX to cover that Strategic Port and the Western Gulf of Mexico.

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CGD11

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In 2000 there were three Island class in the Eleventh District. All three were homeported in San Diego. We already know one or more Webber class will go to San Pedro. I anticipate there will ultimately be two in San Pedro, CA. It seems likely there will also be two based in the San Francisco Bay complex to cover this strategic port and the Northern California coast.

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CGD13

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In 2000 there were two Island class in the Thirteenth district, one in Port Angeles, WA and one in Coos Bay, OR. We already know two will go to Astoria, OR. I think we also need two in Port Angeles, WA to cover the Puget Sound port complex and the Washington coast.

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CGD14

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IN 2000 there were four Island class WPBs in the Fourteenth district, two in Honolulu, HI, one in Hilo, HI, and one in Guam. We already know there will be three Webber class in Honolulu and three in Guam. I don’t anticipate any more.

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CGD17

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In 2000 there were five Island class WPBs in the Seventeenth district, one each in Seward, Ketchikan, Auke Bay, Petersburg, and Homer. We already have two Webber class in Ketchikan, and we know the district will get four more. I anticipate we will see at least two somewhere in Cook Inlet to cover the strategic port of Anchorage, either in Homer or in Anchorage itself. The last two will probably go to Auke Bay, Juneau or add one more to Ketchikan and Cook Inlet.

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The Overview:

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I think this is fairly close to the way we will end up in 2035.

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CGD1…three OPCs…six Webber class

S. Portland, ME: …two Webber class
Boston, MA: …Three OPCs
East end of Long Island Sound (Woods Hole, MA, Newport, RI , or New London)…two Webber class
Sandy Hook, NJ:…two Webber class

CGD5…four OPCs…four Webber class

Cape May, NJ…two Webber class
Portsmouth, VA…Four OPCs
Atlantic Beach, NC…two Webber class

CGD7…three NSCs…three OPCs…21 Webber class

Charleston, SC…three NSCs
Miami, FL…six Webber class
Key West, FL…Three OPCs…six Webber class
San Juan, PR…six Webber class
St. Petersburg, FL…Three OPCs…three Webber class

CGD8

Pascagoula, MS…two Webber class
Galveston, TX…three Webber class
Corpus Christi (Naval Station Ingelside), TX…Three OPCs…two Webber class

CGD11

San Diego and/or San Pedro (Long Beach),… six OPCs…two Webber class
San Francisco Bay/Alameda Complex…four NSCs…two Webber class

CGD13

Astoria, OR…two Webber class
Port Angeles, WA…two Webber class

CGD14

Honolulu…four NSCs…three Webber class
Apra, Guam…three Webber class

CGD17

Ketchikan…two Webber class
Auke Bay (Juneau)…two Webber class
Kodiak, AK…Three OPCs
Cook Inlet (Homer or Juneau)…two Webber class

How does this square with the list of critical ports? It is a good start, but there are too many ports between Pascagoula and Galveston. and between Charleston and Miami. Either we need more Webber class or we need the smaller WPBs that will replace the 87 foot Marine Protector class WPBs to also be able to also protect these ports.

Having ships in the right place is not enough. As I’ve noted several times, I don’t think any of our ships are adequately armed to perform the Maritime Security role, meaning they need to be able to counter both small, fast, highly maneuverable craft and larger vessels. I don’t really think the guns we have now are capable of reliably doing either. Hopefully sometime before 2035 our vessels will be properly equipped for the Homeland Security mission.

37 thoughts on “Homeports, 2035”

Secundius on March 15, 2018 at 12:11 am said:

Is this a Purely Hypothetical Question? Number TEN Hull was funded on 21 November 2017. But the 2018 Appropriations Budget only has allocated ~$95-Million USD for “Long Lead Time Material” for Hull #Eleven, to be built at an Undetermined Date…

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- Chuck Hill on March 15, 2018 at 10:35 am said:
  
  Still uncertain if we will get #11, have to wait and see what is in the enacted 2019 budget.
  
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Tim Moran on March 15, 2018 at 10:17 am said:

Chuck, What do you see for the ninth district?

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- Chuck Hill on March 15, 2018 at 10:33 am said:
  
  Tim, mostly they need small boats, AtoN, and icebreaking. Icebreaking buoy tenders are an especially good fit. Don’t expect a lot of changes, but there has been a push for a second icebreaker.
  We are doing life extension work of the 225′ WLBs and 140′ icebreaking tugs, but since it seems to take a decade to bring new ships on line, we probably should be looking at replacing them. Found these interesting. https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2017/10/25/new-icebreakingbuoy-tending-tug/
  
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gary901c on March 22, 2018 at 4:29 pm said:

So…..Seattle, having at one time 2 WHEC’s, 2 Polar Class breakers, and the Healy (medium breaker), is totally left out of homeporting any of the new NSC’s. That’s sad.

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- Chuck Hill on March 22, 2018 at 9:20 pm said:
  
  My presumption was that all the Icebreakers would be homeported there, but there is a rationale for putting icebreakers in Hawaii or in Christ Church, New Zealand.
  
  If there is room in Seattle, there might be OPCs in Seattle.
  
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  - gary901c on March 23, 2018 at 1:26 pm said:
    
    Thanks Chuck. In my mind, there is also a rationale for putting at least one NSC in Seattle as well.
    g
  - Chuck Hill on March 23, 2018 at 1:35 pm said:
    
    As noted, don’t think you will see only one OPC or one NSC homeported anywhere, will always be at least two and preferably three or more of a class in each homeport. It makes sense from a maintenance/logistics point of view.
  - gary901c on March 23, 2018 at 2:05 pm said:
    
    So are you saying there wont be only 1 NSC in Kodiak?
  - Chuck Hill on March 23, 2018 at 2:22 pm said:
    
    Correct, I expect at least two OPCs at Kodiak but NSCs at only three ports, Alameda, Honolulu, and Charleston, just as there are now.
Craig Wilson on March 23, 2018 at 3:55 pm said:

Unlikely that a Weber-class FRC will be based in Juneau/Auke Bay. The Auke Bay harbor would need to be reconfigured to allow for the size difference between the Island-class and the Weber-class. Definitely not room for two. More likely scenario is to base one in Sitka.

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Chuck Hill on April 25, 2018 at 1:22 pm said:

Dauntless will be changing homeports from Galveston to Pensacola. http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20180425-Dauntless.html
This is the last time Dauntless will return to homeport in Galveston. The 210-foot medium-endurance cutter will remain in port for a brief period before departing for a two-month maintenance period in Brooklyn, New York. From there, Dauntless will shift homeports to Pensacola, Florida. Dauntless was homeported in Galveston for the last 25 years.”

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- Chuck Hill on July 11, 2018 at 10:28 am said:
  
  Dauntless has completed her homeport shift from Galveston to Pensacola. http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20180709-dauntless.html
  
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Chuck Hill on December 21, 2018 at 11:42 am said:

Report on expected arrival of NSC #7, USCGC Kimball in her homeport Honolulu, 12/22/2018. (To be commissioned in January.) https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/combat-capable-coast-guard-cutter-to-homeport-in-honolulu-1.561524

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- Chuck Hill on February 2, 2019 at 10:52 am said:
  
  Kimball did in fact arrive in Honolulu 12/22/2018. Midgett is expected to join her there late in 2019. https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1746765/seventh-national-security-cutter-arrives-in-honolulu-homeport/
  
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  - gary901c on February 2, 2019 at 6:32 pm said:
    
    Are there not going to be any NSC's home ported
  - Secundius on February 2, 2019 at 10:52 pm said:
    
    Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t USCG District 14 in Honolulu a “Home Port”. Or is “Home Port” only in the Lower 48 States…
  - Chuck Hill on February 2, 2019 at 6:38 pm said:
    
    @gary901c, looks like you may not have finished your question.
  - Chuck Hill on February 2, 2019 at 11:34 pm said:
    
    @Secundius, When this was written I did not believe any of the new class ships had arrived at Honolulu, although there might have been a Webber Class. As expected they have started to arrive. Two NSCs there now, although one has not been commissioned yet as a result of the shutdown. As noted, there will be three FRCs homeported in Honolulu, two are there now.
  - Secundius on February 3, 2019 at 12:32 am said:
    
    I thought “William C. Hartt” was still under construction…
  - Chuck Hill on February 3, 2019 at 10:48 am said:
    
    @Secundius, William C Hart is not commissioned yet but two other FRCs are in Hono now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel-class_cutter#Ships
  - Secundius on February 3, 2019 at 11:07 am said:
    
    I wasn’t questioning about either “Joseph Gerczak” or the “Oliver F. Berry”, just about “William C. Hartt”. Unless the two NSC being sent aren’t to be Home Ported, but Test Cruised in Hawai’ian waters…
  - Chuck Hill on February 3, 2019 at 11:27 am said:
    
    @Secundius, Honolulu will be their homeport.
Secundius on December 21, 2018 at 4:01 pm said:

Another New Icebreaker joins the Canadian Coast Guard…

( https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/canadian-coast-guard-adds-to-its-icebreaker-fleet-for-the-first-time-in-25-years/ )

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Chuck Hill on March 19, 2020 at 11:42 am said:

210 foot WMEC Diligence, the only major unit currently homeported in Wilmington NC, will be changing homeports to Pensacola, Florida, during the summer.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/281eaf6

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bigsbigs1 on March 20, 2020 at 11:27 am said:

will it be replaced by another newer cutter? a 154 for instance?

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- Chuck Hill on March 20, 2020 at 11:36 am said:
  
  Don’t think we will see any more cutters in Wilmington. It is pretty far up the Cape Fear River and the Coast Guard does not have a lot of facilities there. Diligence tied up down town. There are already two Webber Class homeported in Atlantic Beach, NC, near Wilmington. Would not be surprised if there was a third in the future, but so far no announcement of any such intention.
  
  Any large cutters in the Area are likely to go to Charleston.
  
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Chuck Hill on June 9, 2020 at 5:08 pm said:

Unofficial, but I have just heard that the first OPC, the future USCGC Argus is to be based at LA/Long Beach. That probably means others will be as well. Probably at least three total.

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- cokolman on June 10, 2020 at 10:23 am said:
  
  SD has long been mentioned as the first OPC homeport, to replace the now departed Hamilton cutters. Somewhat interesting that it seems Coast Guard is looking to increase its presence to the north in LA/LB. To have security forces closer to the commercial shipping hub? Either that or could it be getting too crowded down in SD.
  
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  - Chuck Hill on June 10, 2020 at 12:08 pm said:
    
    Definitely not too crowded in San Diego. As noted above I expected six OPCs in District 11, San Diego and/or San Pedro (Long Beach). They can moor at the Coast Guard Base in San Pedro (not sure how much room they have), they have to moor at the Navy Base in San Diego. We still could see three in San Pedro and three in San Diego.
    
    I do expect after we see the first two go to San Pedro, we will see two go to Kodiak.
Chuck Hill on July 5, 2020 at 2:07 pm said:

210s Dauntless, Diligence, and Reliance grouped together in Pensacola:

Press Release:
USCGC Reliance will depart Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for last time

“KITTERY, MAINE —The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance crew will depart on patrol from the Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire July 6, 2020, and return in August to its new homeport of Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.

“After 32 years homeported in New Hampshire, Reliance will continue service with two other 210-foot medium endurance cutters homeported at Naval Air Station Pensacola, allowing the Coast Guard to better leverage efficiencies gained by clustering vessels of the same class.

“U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance has shifted homeports several times since its commissioning on June 24, 1964. Reliance has been homeported in Corpus Christi, Texas, Yorktown, Virginia, and Port Canaveral, Florida. More recently, Reliance replaced U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant in New Castle, New Hampshire in 1988, and in 1996, shifted berths to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

“During the time in New Hampshire, Reliance has contributed to the Coast Guard’s missions of Search and Rescue, living marine resource protection, and safeguarding New England port and waterways.

“In 1989, Reliance acted as the on-scene commander for the Narragansett Bay Oil Spill. Reliance crews coordinated multiple assets and directed the cleanup of over 300,000 gallons of crude oil from the tanker ship, World Prodigy, that ran aground off the coast of Rhode Island.

“In 1991, a crew of the Reliance assumed tactical command for the intersection of the fishing vessel, Hunter, which was spotted 100 miles south of Long Island and caught smuggling over five tons of cocaine.

“Additionally, a Reliance crew was involved with port security operations during the September 11th terrorist attacks, responded to numerous Search and Rescue cases saving hundreds of lives at sea, and regulated New England’s fisheries to ensure sustainment of fishery stocks.

“U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance was originally designed with a stern exhaust system, a three inch gun deck capable of manning a 40 mm. antisubmarine cannon, a helicopter pad capable of carrying the out of commission HH-52 rotary wing aircraft, and a power plant system that combined diesel and gas combustion. (3” deck gun, not gun deck, antisubmarine cannon? someone is confused –Chuck)

“After undergoing a major maintenance availability in 1987, she was modified to include two pitch controlled main diesel engines capable of reaching a max speed of 18 knots, an exhaust stack that is presented amidships, an armament of one 25 mm. automatic machine gun and two .50 caliber machine guns, and a flight deck capable of carrying and deploying an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

“The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance crew would like to thank Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the town of Kittery for being home to them and Reliance over the past 30 years.”

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- Chuck Hill on July 24, 2020 at 11:47 am said:
  
  News Release
  U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland
  Contact: 8th District Public Affairs
  Office: (504) 671-2020
  After Hours: (618) 225-9008
  Eighth District online newsroom
  
  MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard Cutter Diligence to move homeports to NAS Pensacola
  
  NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard Cutter Diligence is to move homeports from Wilmington, North Carolina to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, Monday, July 27, 2020.
  
  Who: Cmdr. Luke Slivinski, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Diligence, Cmdr. Aaron Kowalczk, executive officer, Coast Guard Cutter Diligence, Chief Petty Officer John Backman, command chief, Coast Guard Cutter Diligence
  
  What: Coast Guard Cutter Diligence’s arrival to Naval Air Station Pensacola
  
  When: 10 a.m., Monday, July 27, 2020
  
  Where: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, 280 Taylor Rd, Pensacola, Fl. 32508
  
  Slivinski, Kowalczk and Backman will be available after their arrival for interviews.
  
  The ceremony is not open to the public in order to maintain safety measures in place due to COVID-19. Media attending are required to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines as per current CDC guidelines.
  
  Media is advised to RSVP to Jason Bortz at (850) 418-5185 by 5 p.m. Sunday, June 26 and to arrive no later than 9 a.m. Monday morning.
  
  Reply ↓
Bill Smith on August 22, 2020 at 9:26 pm said:

So @Chuck: Any updated thoughts on home ports for the remaining Sentinals (FRC)? For example, there are 7 in Puerto Rico and 4 in San Pedro now. How does that effect the distribution, vs. what you thought in 2018 in your article above?

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- Chuck Hill on August 23, 2020 at 10:45 am said:
  
  @Bill Smith, I have been thinking it is about time to update the earlier post, “Ruminating on Homeports While Playing the Red Cell” which was the basis for much of the conclusions of this post.
  
  I did talk a bit about Webber class homeports in a comment on the post “Basing for Large Cutters.”
  https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2020/08/14/basing-for-larger-patrol-cutters/
  I have reproduced the comment below.
  
  @Cokolman, I really think any force protection or harbor defense requirement falls on the WPCs and WPBs. Right now, that really means Webber class WPCs until we get more capable WPBs. The larger ships are either far from their homeports or down hard 99% of the time. They are underway near their homeports only during transit to or from somewhere else. That is why I advocate better armament for WPCs and WPBs. We still have 17 Webber class that are to be delivered that are not paired with any particular home port yet.
  (List here, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel-class_cutter)
  Two we know are going to Astoria, and four more will go to Alaska. So that is still 11 to go to other ports not yet identified. Additional areas where I would like to see these go include New England , Hudson River Complex, San Francisco Bay, and Puget Sound.
  
  Reply ↓
  - Bill Smith on August 23, 2020 at 6:12 pm said:
    
    Well, I’ll throw out some ruminations.
    
    Since you (I believe correctly) think the OPCs in the NorthEast will be clustered in RI, I bet at least a pair (more likely 3) of the 154s will be assigned to Boston to replace the WMEC presence there. Plenty of pier space and housing, and it is a central location between Maine and New York, just right for their range/patrol endurance.
    
    There needs to be a PB presence (with greater endurance than the Marine Protectors) to cover Northern California and Southern Oregon. I imagine the San Pedro units will patrol a bit Northward, but their principle focus is likely drug/migrant interdiction to the South. That would mean 2-3 in San Francisco.
    
    I could see San Pedro getting 1-2 more, as well as Galveston/Pascagoula 1 (to give the western Gulf of Mexico an even 6). A lot of this depends on patrol days and how the Key West PBs share the load in the Gulf/western Caribbean.
    
    I’m torn about any going to Virginia. Cape May/Atlantic Beach seem to be a good split, given the 154s range and endurance, so maybe just put 1-2 more at each of those bases? Or, if my count above is correct, it would leave 3 to be clustered in VA.
    
    Lastly, my OCD has been really troubled by the CG putting a seventh 154 at Puerto Rico. Seven is a prime number, so doesn’t fit well with any rotation concept I like… Then it occurred to me: perhaps that allows some flexibility in patrols to allow a 154 to conduct Joint LE Ops with partner nations, like the old Caribbean Support Tender? I rather like the idea as it could exponentially increase activity, cooperation and support with partner nations, particularly in the Antilles.
  - Chuck Hill on August 24, 2020 at 12:24 pm said:
    
    @Bill Smith, I am going to reserve further comments while I give it some more study.
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