“Coast Guard Cutter Mustang decommissioned after nearly 40 years of service” –The Penultimate Island Class

A starboard bow view of the US Coast Guard (USCG) ISLAND CLASS, Patrol Craft, USS MUSTANG (WPB 1310), underway at Port Valdez, Alaska, while providing harbor security during Exercise NORTHERN EDGE 2002.
Location: PORT VALDEZ, ALASKA (AK) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Below is a Coast Guard news release.

The last three US Coast Guard 110 foot Island class WPBs were in Alaska. Mustang in Seward, Naushon in Homer, and Liberty in Valdez. Naushon was decommissioned March 21st. With Mustang decommissioned April 15, Liberty is the last of 49 Island class cutters that have seen service with the Coast Guard.

Like the Hamilton class cutters, a number of the class are still in service with other navies and coast guards, in Costa Rica, Georgia, Greece, Pakistan, and Ukraine. At least one, the former USCGC Cushing, was sunk while in Ukrainian service.


April 16, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Mustang decommissioned after nearly 40 years of service

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Mustang (WPB 1310) during a ceremony in Seward, Tuesday.

Capt. Christopher Culpepper, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska & U.S. Arctic, presided over the ceremony honoring the nearly 40 years of service Mustang and its crews provided to the nation.

Commissioned on August 29, 1986, Mustang was the 10th Island-Class cutter to join the fleet.

Mustang has been stationed in Seward since it was commissioned, and its crews have since responded to over 200 search-and-rescue cases and completed over 2000 law enforcement sorties.

Mustang is a 110-foot, Island-Class patrol boat, a multi-mission platform that conducted operations to support search and rescue response, marine environmental protection, and national defense.

The Coast Guard is replacing the aging Island-Class patrol boats with Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) which feature enhanced capability to meet service needs. There are currently four FRC’s homeported in Alaska, with two more scheduled for delivery in the near future.

“The decommissioning of Mustang is a bittersweet moment,” said Lt. Gabrielle Troise, Commanding Officer of Mustang. “It’s been my honor to be a member of the final crew, and I’m incredibly proud of the legacy we will leave behind within the community of Seward where Mustang has faithfully served since her commissioning.”

1 thought on ““Coast Guard Cutter Mustang decommissioned after nearly 40 years of service” –The Penultimate Island Class

  1. Speaking of Island-class boats, two were just transferred to Tunisia. The embassy press release doesn’t identify the old names of the boats, but did ID them as Island-class. Which was more than the Star & Stripes article did.

    https://tn.usembassy.gov/united-states-transfers-two-34m-island-class-patrol-boats-to-tunisia-during-visit-of-uss-mount-whitney/

    https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-04-18/tunisia-navy-africa-mediterranean-17505976.html

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