The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) poses for a group photo on the cutter’s flight deck during a contraband offload, Aug. 23, 2024, alongside select personnel from Coast Guard Cutters Spencer (WMEC 905), Legare (WMEC 912), Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team, and Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command while moored to the pier in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Escanaba conducted a 46-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Hillard)
Below is a news release from Coast Guard News.
Two things of note in what would normally be a routine report:
First, despite the fact that most Atlantic Area cutters are closer to the Eastern Pacific drug transit zone than those based on the West coast, recently they have been too busy with migrant interdiction to do drug enforcement in the Pacific. This patrol marks a return to previous practice of having LANTAREA cutters, as well as those from the Pacific Area, working the drug problem in the Pacific.
Second, reading the caption of the photo above, you may note that the crew included “...select personnel from Coast Guard Cutters Spencer (WMEC 905), Legare (WMEC 912)…” Spencer and Legare are at the Coast Guard yard as the first and second of six Bear class WMEC270s that will receive full Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) upgrades. The crews are reassigned after the ships enter SLEP, so it appears some were temporarily assigned to Escanaba to make up for shortfalls in the crew. The shortfalls may have been exacerbated because the patrol was over the summer transfer season.
Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba completes 46-day counter-drug patrol in Eastern Pacific Ocean
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) returned home to Portsmouth, Wednesday, following a 46-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
While deployed, crew members supported the Coast Guard Eleventh District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and Joint Interagency Task Force – South, headquartered in Key West, Florida.
During the patrol, Escanaba’s crew disrupted illegal narcotics smuggling, interdicting 3,408 pounds of cocaine and 4,418 pounds of marijuana valued at nearly $50 million during two separate interdictions. The drugs were offloaded in Port Everglades, Florida on Aug. 23. Additional information about Escanaba’s drug offload, including photos and video, can be found here.
Escanaba’s drug seizures contributed directly to furthering Coast Guard objectives to combat transnational criminal organizations and enhance regional stability and security.
While at sea, Escanaba’s crew was assisted by members of Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), based in Jacksonville, Florida and members of Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific – Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 107, based in San Diego, California.
HITRON crew members delivered air support for the use of force and enhanced long-range detection capabilities while deployed aboard Escanaba. The TACLET Pacific LEDET supplied skilled boarding personnel critical for mission execution and served as a force multiplier for other law enforcement activities.
“The crew of Escanaba and our shipmates from HITRON and TACLET are to be commended for executing a demanding mission with professionalism and precision,” said Cmdr. Jared Silverman, commanding officer of Escanaba. “In concert with the Coast Guard’s partner agencies and with support from Joint Interagency Task Force – South, the accomplishments of Escanaba serve as a reminder of how vital this mission is.”
Escanaba is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The cutter’s primary duties are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources protection, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
For information on how to join the U.S. Coast Guard, visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty, reserve, officer, and enlisted opportunities. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found here.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 