Coast Guard Cutters Venturous (WMEC 625) and Hamilton (WMSL 753) rendezvous at sea, Nov. 21, 2024, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Venturous’ crew conducted a 40-day counter drug patrol within the Coast Guard Eleventh District area of responsibility in support of Joint Interagency Task Force – South. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A friend posted the following in response to a post I made on facebook.
The CG placed 20+ vessels into a special status: they are no longer operating nor are they crewed. The personnel and operational funds were redirected to other current and future needs. Current and future budgets should look to downsize shoreside administrative functions by simplifying business processes so that resources can be redirected to operational needs.
Current fleet compared to the fleet in 2000:
So, I decided to look at the current active fleet, first in comparison to the fleet in 2020. At that time, we had 12 WHECs, 32 WMECs, and 49 WPB110s, a total of 93 ships. Currently we have as best I can tell 10 NSCs, 23 WMECs, 58 WPC158s, and 3 WPB110s for a total of 94.
In terms of manpower, the fleet in 2000 required crews totaling 5703 while the current fleet requires a complement of 4785.
The full load tonnage of the fleet in 2000 was 92,168 tons; for the current fleet 102,596 tons.
Decline before Renewal:
The first National Security Cutter was not commissioned until 2008 and the first Fast Response Cutter not until 2012.
Between 2000 and 2008 the Coast Guard decommissioned three WMECs and eight WPB110s. The 110s as a result of the failed attempt to lengthen them, for a total of 11 ships bring the total down to 82. That would have reduced the manpower requirement to 5347.
The future fleet:
The currently projected fleet will include 11 NSCs, 25 OPCs, and 67 FRCs for a total of 103. Estimated manning (OPC unknown but I assumed 100, NSC assumed 126, that may be low) would be 5494, and a total tonnage of 185,651 tons full load.
We are moving toward a fleet with fewer large ships, but they will be significantly larger and a fleet of significantly more small ships each significantly larger.
The way the NSCs have been pushed and Webber class WPCs’ better seakeeping and greater number of programmed days underway probably translates into considerably more ship days underway.
In view of the deteriorating world situation, I would like to see some of the out-year OPCs replace by a more capable warship, perhaps smaller and in greater numbers.
I see a need to replace at least some of the WPB87 footers with high-speed craft capable both of speeding to a SAR case of shore and countering a terrorist attack–a true Fast Response Cutter.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
You certainly do your homework, Chuck.
very interesting, in some respects, not too much change.
Another great article Chuck! Very detailed with good comparison numbers. While overall, things seem similar numbers wise,
I still think the fleet is very different capabilities wise. The 378’s, even post FRAM, still had some acceptable military capabilities. As someone who served on the Gallatin pre FRAM, I saw those up close every day. Search and Rescue wise, I think we are still equipped pretty well and Law Enforcement wise we are ok.
You’ve documented here many times our current lack of capability to stop a ship that terrorists might have taken over. I know we have the MSRT that can be called upon but a single shell form a 5″ gun cost far less and has greater range. (That is of course, if we ever got approval to actually fire it)
378’s used to operate regularly in Navy OPS and even NATO OPS. I don’t know if we do that much anymore and if we did, what value would we be providing?
Ideally to me, we should have a decent number of frigate armed type ships that can operate independently or augment the Navy as need.
But hey, what do I know…….
Thanks as always for keeping us up to date and providing a forum for our discussions!