USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752), left, and the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) maneuver in formation during Talisman Sabre 2019 on July 11, 2019. US Navy Photo

From my Coast Guard perspective, my number one question when viewing the new tri-service strategy, “Advantage at Sea,” is “What is the Coast Guard expected to do?” It does not appear that we have been given a clear answer, particularly in regard to our role in a major conflict.

Below, I quote every part of the strategy that refers uniquely to the Coast Guard. (I have not included those sections where “Coast Guard” or “coast guardsmen” are lumped in with Navy and Marine Corps or sailors and marines.)

In part 2, we will look at the strategy in more detail. I will also talk about what I see as logical use of the Coast Guard in a major conflict.

“The Coast Guard is expanding its global engagements and capacity-building efforts in key vulnerable regions.” –from Foreword

“The Coast Guard’s mission profile makes it the preferred maritime security partner for many nations vulnerable to coercion. Integrating its unique authorities—law enforcement, fisheries protection, marine safety, and maritime security—with Navy and Marine Corps capabilities expands the options we provide to joint force commanders for cooperation and competition.” p.7, “Integrated All-Domain Naval Power”

“In the homeland, the Coast Guard protects the marine transportation system that
underpins America’s economic vitality.” p.10, “Employing Naval Forces, Operating Across the Competition Continuum, In Day-to-Day Competition”

“Navy and Coast Guard ships conduct freedom of navigation operations globally,
challenging excessive and illegal maritime claims. Coast Guard cutters and law enforcement detachments aboard Navy and allied ships exercise unique authorities to counter terrorism, weapons proliferation, transnational crime, and piracy. All three services enforce sanctions through maritime interdiction operations, often as part of international task forces.” p.11, “Employing Naval Forces, Operating Across the Competition Continuum, In Day-to-Day Competition”

“Coast Guard forces provide additional tools for crisis management through capabilities that can de-escalate maritime standoffs nonlethally.” p.12, “Employing Naval Forces, Operating Across the Competition Continuum, In Crisis”

“Rapidly deployable Coast Guard cutters, Port Security Units, and Advanced Interdiction Teams will provide specialized capabilities, augmenting operations in theater.” p.13/14, “Employing Naval Forces, Operating Across the Competition Continuum, In Conflict”

“The Coast Guard will ensure the safe, secure, and efficient marine transportation
system essential to sustaining forces in war.” p.14 “Employing Naval Forces, Operating Across the Competition Continuum, In Conflict”

“A modernized Coast Guard fleet will enhance global deployability and provide expanded options across the competition continuum.” p.15/16, “Developing Naval Forces, Delivering Integrated All-Domain Naval Forces”

“The Coast Guard will prioritize readiness, capacity, and future capability—including cyber, C5ISR, and modernizing the cutter fleet—over legacy capability. ” p.17, “Developing Naval Forces, Delivering Integrated All-Domain Naval Forces, Integrated naval modernization”

“The Coast Guard’s fleet modernization, including acquisition of the Offshore Patrol Cutter, Polar Security Cutter, Arctic Security Cutter, and Waterways Commerce Cutter, will provide the capacity and capabilities necessary to facilitate advancing maritime governance and protecting U.S. maritime sovereignty.” p.23, “Annex: Naval Service Investments, Prevailing in day-to-day competition”

“Coast Guard will maintain investments in ships, talent, and infrastructure to operate a modernized cutter fleet.” p.24. “Annex: Naval Service Investments, Operational readiness”

Below is the Coast Guard’s news release regarding the new Tri-Service Strategy

News Release U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Contact: Headquarters Public Affairs Office: (202) 372-4630 mediarelations@uscg.mil Headquarters online newsroom Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Release Maritime Strategy WASHINGTON ̶ The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard released a new tri-Service maritime strategy today, entitled Advantage at Sea. The document provides strategic guidance on how the sea services will prevail in day-to-day competition, crisis, and conflict over the next decade. It also directs the services to deepen tri-service integration, aggressively pursue force modernization, and continue robust cooperation with allies and partners. “Our integrated Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard must maintain clear-eyed resolve to compete with, deter, and, if necessary, defeat our adversaries while we accelerate development of a modernized, integrated all-domain naval force for the future,” wrote Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David H. Berger, and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz in the strategy’s forward. “Our actions in this decade will shape the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century.” Advantage at Sea places particular focus on China and Russia due to their increasing maritime aggressiveness, demonstrated intent to dominate key international waters and clear desire to remake the international order in their favor. “China’s and Russia’s revisionist approaches in the maritime environment threaten U.S. interests, undermine alliances and partnerships, and degrade the free and open international order,” the document states. “Moreover, China’s and Russia’s aggressive naval growth and modernization are eroding U.S. military advantages.” The strategy also emphasizes the maritime domain is integral not only to America’s security and prosperity but to those of all nations. The oceans connect global markets, provide essential resources, and link societies and businesses. Shared interests create opportunities for greater cooperation with allies and partners. “As Sailors, we are on the leading edge of Great Power Competition each and every day,” said Gilday. “Sea control, power projection and the capability to dominate the oceans must be our primary focus. Our forces must be ready today, and ready tomorrow, to defend our nation’s interests against potential adversaries at any time. This strategy helps us do exactly that.” The strategy directs the Services to pursue an agile and aggressive approach to force modernization and experimentation. The future fleet will combine legacy assets with new, smaller ships, lighter amphibious ships, modernized aircraft, expanded logistics, resilient space capabilities, and optionally manned and unmanned platforms. To succeed in a dynamic operating environment, the Services will also invest in warfighter development, delivering innovative training and education to ensure our Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen remain the world’s premier naval force. Advantage at Sea also reflects the dual roles of the Service Chiefs: advising on the employment of forces in day-to-day competition, crisis and conflict, and developing a modernized future force that deters potential adversaries and advances and defends U.S. interests. “The Marine Corps is conducting a sweeping force design transformation to fulfill our role as the Nation’s expeditionary force-in-readiness while simultaneously modernizing the force in accordance with the operating environment described in the National Defense Strategy and the tri-Service maritime strategy. We must embrace new ways of operating within the concepts of integrated U.S. naval power to deter future adversaries and generate better strategic choices,” said Berger. As the Services pursue greater integration, to include training and education; capabilities and networks; plans, exercises, and experiments; analysis and wargaming; investments and innovation; and force design, Advantage at Sea states they will collaborate with allies and partners to build capability, enhance interoperability, and generate unity of effort. Alongside allies and partners, the Services will be able to establish sea denial and sea control where and when needed, project power, and hold critical adversary targets at risk. “As the only military service in the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard provides unique multi-mission and intelligence capabilities to complement the ability of our Marines and Navy to protect our national interests when necessary and deliver lethality across the globe,” said Schultz. “Our hallmark is working daily with partner agencies, sister sea services, and international navies and coast guards to counter maritime coercion and uphold the rules-based order – partnerships work.” To read the full strategy, please visit: https://www.uscg.mil/tsms

New Orleans, September 5, 2005 – A Disaster Medical Assistance Team member (left) assures a rescued man that the trip to the airport will be safe. Thousands of people are airlifted from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center pickup site to the New Orleans Airport every day. Photo by Win Henderson / FEMA photo.

The Congressional Research Service has another Coast Guard related “primer,” a two page basic explanation, written for congressmen and their staffers, to provide basic understand. This one is on healthcare, “Defense Health Primer: U.S. Coast Guard Health Services.”

It covers mission, organization, budget, USCG healthcare personnel, USPHS support to the USCG, USCG health services, interaction with TriCare, and current challenges including electronic health records, USPHS support, and the disability evaluation system.

Thanks to Bryant’s Maritime Consulting for bringing this to my attention.

Naval News Reports that, “Italian shipbuilder Intermarine launched the longest self-righting and unsinkable boat ever built in Italy.” At 33.6 meters (110′), length overall, this may be the largest self-righting rescue craft in the world.

Our own 52′ Motor lifeboats are becoming unsupportable, as made clear by the recent withdrawal of Victory, now 64 years old, from service. Our 87′ patrol boat are approaching the end of their service life. It may be time to look at what others have done and procure a larger, more powerful, and  extremely seaworthy self righting boat capable of replacing both the 87 footer and the 52 foot MLB, at least in ports where a maritime terrorist threat is extremely unlikely. 

Specifications here: Scheda nave nuova classe cp 420 Natale De Grazia (slideshare.net) (Thanks to W B Young)

A Google Translation: 

Ship board new class cp 420 Natale De Grazia
1. New Naval Unit class CP 420 Technical Sheet CP 420 – Christmas Ship DE GRAZIA…………………………………. (delivery expected December 2020) CP 421 – Ship Roberto ARINGHIERI………………… (delivery expected December 2021) Classification RINA C (✠) Rescue and Maritime Police Self-thinning and Unsinkable – Navigation Unrestricted Length 33.60 m. Width 8.15 m. Draw 1.34 m. Full load displacement ~ 150 tons Max speed 31 knots > 1000 nm. (28 knots) Construction material Aluminum Alloy Propulsion Hydrojet n.2 KONGHSBERG 2 x MTU : 16V2000M96 (2 X 1790 KW / 2 X 2490HP) Electrical generation 2 DDGG Deutz/Koelmo (2 x 85 KW)
2. Boarding capacity 200 people including 50 hospitalized and sitting in the room shipwrecked with adjacent decontamination area and infirmary Crew 10 (logistics accommodations: (2 x 2pl) + (2 x 4pl) T.V. Command (CP) Operating and communication systems no. 2 GPS – no. 2 RADAR (X and S band) – ECDIS – VSAT – VHF/FM – n.2 HF 500/150W RodeSwarts – Warship AIS NAVNET system – Optronic system – Ecosounder Other operating capacities Sea holding 6 – wind F9 Service boat on fly bridge Dedicated area for operations such as Vertrep/Medevac 0.5 ton feeding table crane for shipwreck recovery 75 mc/h high pressure fire monitor Fendering perimeter system: profile “D” (80×40) expanded polyethylene core (closed cell density 33 Kg/mc) coated the polyurea with differentiated thickness with high resistance (to fire 175°C) orange color RAL2004 Capacity : Water Crates 3.6 mc (in addition to the dissalators) Diesel Crates : 55 mc Construction site INTERMARINE spa La Spezia – Shipyard of Messina

31 knots would be remarkably fast for a vessel of this size with the power indicated, faster than either the 87 footers or the 110s with less power than either.