Coast Guard members salute during the playing of the national anthem during a decommissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutters Sea Dog and Sea Dragon in St. Marys, Georgia, May 29, 2024. Rear Adm. Douglas M. Schofield, Coast Guard District Seven Commander, presided over the ceremony honoring the years of service the Sea Dog and Sea Dragon and their crews provided to the nation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Dickinson)
Below is a press release. The two 87 foot patrol boats were assigned to a Force Protection unit for the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs) based at Kings Bay, GA.
“The Coast Guard cutters Sea Devil (WPB 87368) and Sea Fox (WPB 87374) have relocated from Bangor, Washington, to replace the Sea Dog and Sea Dragon.”
Sea Devil and Sea Fox were assigned to the Force Protection Unit that escorts SSBNs from Bangor, WA. Is that unit being decommissioned, or are they being reequipped? The two WPBs at each unit were not the only boats used by these units.
As I recall these WPBs and their operating costs were paid for by the Navy Department. In any case these decommissionings do not affect normal Coast Guard operations.
These four WPBs were equipped a bit differently from standard Marine Protector class 87 footers, including having a .50 cal. mounted in a remote weapon station on a band stand on the bow.
KEYPORT, Wash. (Aug. 18, 2009) U. S. Coast Guardsmen man the rails as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sea Fox (WPB 87374) is brought to life at Naval Base Kitsap. (U.S. Navy photo Ray Narimatsu/Released)
Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention.
PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard cutters Sea Dog, Sea Dragon decommissioned in St. Marys, Georgia
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard decommissioned the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Sea Dog (WPB 87373) and Sea Dragon (WPB 87367), Wednesday, during a ceremony in St. Marys, Georgia.
Rear Adm. Douglas M. Schofield, Coast Guard District Seven commander, presided over the ceremony honoring the years of service the Sea Dog and Sea Dragon provided to the nation.
The Sea Dog and Sea Dragon were 87-foot marine protector-class cutters assigned to Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District.
Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay is designed to support the Navy’s efforts to provide anti-terrorism and force protection for its Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and to assist in meeting its Presidential mandates for ballistic weapon security.
The Sea Dragon was commissioned in January 2008 and the Sea Dog was commissioned in July 2009.
“The men and women of the cutters Sea Dog and Sea Dragon, past and present, have exemplified unwavering professionalism and dedication, safeguarding our nation’s waters and supporting critical defense missions,” said Capt. David Vicks, commanding officer of Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay. “I extend my profound gratitude to these courageous crews as we honor their steadfast service.”
Following the decommissioning ceremony, the cutters will be transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
The Coast Guard cutters Sea Devil (WPB 87368) and Sea Fox (WPB 87374) have relocated from Bangor, Washington, to replace the Sea Dog and Sea Dragon.
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Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
You asked, “Is that unit being decommissioned, or are they being reequipped?”
The article answers that by saying, “The Coast Guard cutters Sea Devil (WPB 87368) and Sea Fox (WPB 87374) have relocated from Bangor, Washington, to replace the Sea Dog and Sea Dragon.” (I think they meant relocated to Bangor Washington, not relocated “from” Bangor Washington).
No, it doesn’t. Sea Devil and Sea Fox were in Bangor, WA and are moving to the unit supporting the SSBNs in Kings Bay, GA, so that unit is not being decommissioned. The question was what is happening to the unit supporting the subs out of Bangor, WA? Since the East Coast unit is not being disbanded, I doubt the West Coast unit will be, but they are losing their WPBs.
I know that armed MSC vessels are now somehow involved in Bangor based sub escorts and logistics (personal transfers in the Straights of Juan de Fuca).
A recent TWZ post discussed an escort earlier in May that involved A-10 Warthogs.
https://www.twz.com/news-features/a-10-warthogs-escorting-a-ballistic-missile-submarine-is-certainly-different
@Ri, MSC has chartered some OSVs that are used function like blockers, placing themselves between the subs and other traffic.
The photos of the MSC vessels in the TWZ post clearly show a crew served or remote weapons station on the bow. I believe I may have read elsewhere that they’re mounting a 25mm Bushmaster.
I wonder what the USMC is going to do with them or are they just being stored there ?
@Clamcop369, generally decommissioned cutters are being stored at the Coast Guard Yard, but these were paid for by the Navy, so perhaps the Coast Guard is returning them. I suspect the Navy will use them as part of their training organization. Going to Cherry Point, where the Marines have an Air Station, I think “crash boats,” but I haven’t seen any mention of crash boats in any contemporary setting.
The water that ballistic submarines operate in is deep enough for Navy vessels to escort the submarines.
@ Norm, water depth was never an issue. The Navy does not have the law enforcement authority the Coast Guard does. The Coast Guard keeps civilian craft from approaching uncomfortably close.
Sooo…. it’s not a “shallow water” issue?? 🙂