“Guardians of the Deep: An Inside Look at the Elite Submarine Protection Coast Guard Unit” –by Navy Lt. Zachary Anderson, Submarine Group 9

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Service members assigned to the Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor pose for a photo with Royal Marines, assigned to the 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, on the waters of the Puget Sound, Wash., Nov. 4, 2025.

Department of War posted a story about Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor, which provides protection for Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines, during their surface transits to and from their base.

Two Coast Guard special purpose craft-screening vessels, assigned to the Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor, transit the waters off Port Angeles, Wash., March 18, 2025. 

Note the .50 caliber machine guns in remote weapon station mounts which provide augmented vision as well as a stabilized weapon with the operator out of sight.

We have talked about these units before (see below), but it has been quite a while. The post includes photos of a Coast Guard WPCs and a helicopter apparently escorting an SSBN. These are not part of the full time single mission Force Protection Unit but were apparently operating in cooperation with them.

USCGC Florence Finch sails alongside the ballistic-missile submarine USS Maine as it transits the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the Washington CoastCoast, March 18, 2025.

There was one statement that particularly caught my attention, “…the MFPU mission has given Cifelli the chance to experience a wide variety of weapons systems within his rating, from small arms to the .50-caliber machine gun and even new systems designed to counter emerging threats.” I am guessing this refers to counter UAS systems.

Previous posts on the subject

Thanks to Paul for bringing this to my attention. 

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