Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) “Little Bird” helicopter operates with USCGC DILIGENCE

Army Recognition’s Navy news reports, “U.S. Navy Explores Littoral Combat Ships as Forward Bases for Marine AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters.”

Maybe this capability should have been obvious, but it does require thinking outside the box. Any ship that normally operates helicopters should be able to provide at least basic logistics support for an attack helicopter, and with a little foresight, planning, and experience do better than that.

Coast Guard cutters could do this too. The Navy is doing this with Marine Helicopters, but I bet the Army might be interested in doing something like this, particularly in Alaska where Navy surface ships seldom venture.

Of course there are lots of other Army weapon systems that could be temporarily parked on Coast Guard flight decks. 

U.S. Army and Navy assets conduct an interdiction operation in the Bering Sea in July 2024.
IMAGE CREDIT: SENIOR AIRMAN JOHNNY DIAZ/U.S. AIR FORCE