For some time, I have thought that the Webber class, “Fast Response Cutter” (FRC), program was misnamed. Webber class cutters don’t generally sit in port waiting for some alarm to call them to rush to the scene. Rather they are used more like small Medium Endurance Cutters. This has proven especially fortuitous in view of the delays in replacing the existing WMECs. It is only because of the versatility of the Webber class that the Coast Guard will be able to maintain its drug and alien migrant interdiction efforts in the 7th District and extend fisheries protection and counter IUU efforts into the Western Pacific while decommissioning WMECs before their replacements are completed.

Still, I do believe there is a need for true Fast Response Cutters for those rapidly developing missions that require more range and capability than a Response Boat, Medium, for protection of high value units, and to respond in the event of a maritime terrorist attack–units for which SAR and particularly Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security are their primary missions.

The “Marine Protector” 87-foot patrol boats have had this job, but they are approaching the end of their service life (the oldest are now 25 years old). Four of them are particularly tasks with protecting Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines during surface transit from their bases to open sea. They have never been well prepared to deal with terrorist threats and aren’t really particularly fast.

We have discussed characteristics for a WPB replacement, a true Fast Response Cutter, before (here and here) and why nothing we have currently is suitable for the mission. The Shaldag Mk. V looks like a good candidate for the job, but first let’s look at where and why we might need vessels of this type.

The Webber class as Fast Response Cutters:

In some places, the Webber class might take on the functions of a “fast response cutter.” Where there are three or more based in a single location, it should be possible to have one on standby virtually at all times. Though better armed than the 87 footers, they are not particularly well prepared to deal with the terrorist threat, but it is possible to increase their armament to make them more effective in the role.

Even if the Webber class could be used in the FRC role, their basing, concentrated as it is to improve maintenance, would leave many ports with no similar protection.

Where Do We Need Fast Response Cutters:

In an earlier post, “A Reevaluation, Ruminating on Homeports While Playing the Red Cell,” Part 1 and Part 2, I identified 31 critical ports that required protection from unconventional attack.

I will assume that if the Coast Guard recognizes the need for a true Fast Response Cutter, a well-armed interceptor, and does build such a class, that they will also increase the armament of at least some of the Webber class, so that they could also be effective in this role at critical ports where they are based.

Webber class are based in 9 of the 31 critical ports: Moorehead City/Atlantic Beach, NC; Miami; San Juan; Pascagoula; Galveston; LA/Long Beach/San Pedro; Honolulu; and Guam.

That leaves 22 port complexes without resident Fast Response Cutters:

CCGD1:

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

CCGD5:

• Chesapeake Bay Complex, VA–Base for aircraft carriers and submarines, Major naval shipbuilder, Strategic Port, #9 port by tonnage, #5 container port; plus water route to Washington, DC (major cultural target) and Baltimore, MD–#14 port by tonnage, #13 container port, #12 cruise ship port
• Cape Fear River–Strategic Seaport, Wilmington, NC

CCGD7:

• Charleston, SC–#7 container port, #15 cruise ship port, Strategic Seaport
• Savannah, GA–#4 container port, Strategic Seaport
• Jacksonville complex, FL (including Kings Bay, GA)–SSBNs, Navy Base Mayport, #14 cruise ship port, Strategic Seaport/ Mayport, FL
• Port Canaveral, FL–#3 Cruise Ship port/ Cape Canaveral, FL:
• Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, FL–#11 container port, #2 Cruise Ship port
• Tampa, FL–#7 Cruise Ship port/

CCGD8

• Mobile, AL–major naval shipbuilder, #11 port by tonnage
• Gulfport, MS–Strategic Seaport
• Mississippi River Complex, LA–New Orleans #6 port by tonnage, #14 container port, +#10 Cruise Ship port; South Louisiana #1 port by tonnage; Baton Rouge #8 port by tonnage; Port of Plaquemines #13 port by tonnage.
• Lake Charles, LA–#12 port by tonnage
• Sabine Pass complex (Beaumont/Port Author/Orange, TX)–#4 port by tonnage (Beaumont), Strategic Seaport (both Beaumont and Port Author), It also has an LNG exporting terminal.
• Corpus Christi, TX–#7 port by tonnage, Strategic Seaport

CCGD11:

• San Diego, CA–Base for aircraft carriers and submarines, major naval shipbuilder (NASSCO), Strategic Seaport
• San Francisco Bay complex,, CA–A major cultural target, #6 container port (Oakland), Strategic Seaport (Oakland and Concord)/Alameda, CA

CCGD13:

• 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)

CCGD17:

• Anchorage, AK–Strategic Seaport

Assuming we need two boats to maintain one on standby or underway at all times this suggests we need 44 Fast Response Cutters. Fewer than the 73 patrol boats of the Marine Protector class.

The Shaldag MkV as a Fast Response Cutter:

Navy Recognition reports delivery of a third batch of Israeli built Shaldag Mk. V fast attack craft to the Philippine Navy. In the Philippine Navy, these are referred to as Acero class coastal patrol interdiction craft (CPIC).

The Shaldag Mk. V seems to be a true Fast Response Cutter that checks many (but not all) of the boxes that could make it effective in this role. The Shaldag Mk V shows what can be done on even a modest sized vessel. They are:

• 95 tons full load displacement
• 32.65 m (107.1 ft) length overall,
• with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft),
• speed of more than 40 knots,
• range of 1,000 miles at 15 knots.
• crew of 12

These craft are armed with:

Photo: Typhoon MLS-ER (Missile Launch System–Extended Range)

• 1 x Rafael Typhoon MLS-ER missile launcher for 4 x Spike ER surface-to-surface missiles, a weapon similar to Hellfire/JAGM (on at least four of the Acero class)
• 1 × Mk.44 Bushmaster II autocannon mounted on Rafael Typhoon Mk 30-C remote-controlled weapon station (Mk38 Mod 2/3 in US service but with a 30mm gun)
• 2 × M2HB Browning 12.7 mm/50-cal. heavy machine guns mounted on Rafael Mini Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations
• 2 × M60 7.62 mm/30-cal. GP machine guns

What we might do differently:

The Shaldag Mk. V is certainly not the only possible solution for a true Fast Response Cutter, but its speed and equipment does represent some but not all the capabilities that should be incorporated in an FRC.

The Shaldag Mk. V has a capability against Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) and small, fast, highly maneuverable surface threats. As threat vessel increase in size their effectiveness diminishes substantially. They don’t need to sink large ships, but they do at least need to be able to immobilize them to keep terrorists from reaching their objective and to allow time for a DOD response.

The Shaldag’s boat handling facilities appear more difficult to use than those on the 87 foot cutters. We could do better, and it is likely we would need better boat handling equipment for day-to-day SAR missions.

The Missiles used on the Shaldag Mk. V are not used by the US Navy or Marine Corps, but comparable weapons–Hellfire, JAGM, or APKWS–could be used instead.

The 30mm Mk38 Mod4 would replace the Israeli 30mm Typhoon gun mount.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System Remote Weapon Station, could replace the .50 caliber Mini Typhoon remote weapon stations.

To be able to immobilize even very large ships, the Very Light Weight Torpedo might be adequate.