The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) web site has a profile of the project manager for the Offshore Patrol Cutter program (CG-9322), Capt. Douglas Schofield. Sounds like he has first hand experience with the problems of continuing to run the legacy fleet.
There is also a short piece by Master Chief Petty Officer Brett F. Ayer about how platform requirements are determined.
The Center for International Maritime Security (cimsec.org) has a story on development of an Unmanned Surface Vessel. It is based on an 11 meter RHIB. (Actually in this case it looks like the Israeli firm engineered the system and the USN, BAE, and Lockeed engineered the labels, signs, and advertising.)
Still a similar system might be useful for the Coast Guard. It could provide another radar and electro-optical unit remote from the (or shore station) that launched it. It can be kept on scene longer than a manned boat, because operators can be cycled through on watches periodically, and get rest, sleep, and hot meals, rather than either being exposed in a small boat for long periods or having to return to the cutter for crew change.
This provides an additional search unit increasing the area searched by a cutter in the same way a helicopter does. It is not as fast, but more persistent and cheaper to operate.
You just have to love this photo:
“Positioning the Spencer in New York Harbor gives me on-scene command and control, supplements units impacted by the storm, and offers the very best response to the people of New York and New Jersey.” – Rear Adm. Dan Abel. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, homeported in Boston, deployed to New York Harbor to assist in the search and rescue response and is acting as a communications hub for post Hurricane Sandy response efforts.
From the Coast Guard’s Facebook page. The photo looks even better there and at this point 86 comments with more coming in all the time.
One time Coast Guard blogger Ryan Ericson has a post on the US Naval Institute site with his suggestions as to worthwhile charities, “I’m Giving to the Coast Guard Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project with CFC…What About You?”
Feel free to make a case for you’re own favorites in the comments.
The Navy’s history and Heritage Commands notes that today is the anniversary of the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Navy Department. Nominally to enforce “neutrality,” it was in reality to prosecute an undeclared war against Axis submarines.
We all know the CG got out in front of this, much like they did prior to Katrina.
Apparently the Navy is ready to help, but no one (but the Corp of Engineers) is asking. Seems like all those landing craft and boats could be useful.
As noted by Brian McGrath, over at Informationdissemination, the CNO has issued a “Position Report.” (pdf) It’s only three pages and updates his “Navigation Plan.”
This quote caught my eye, “With the other sea services we will revise our maritime strategy, “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower”, to address the challenges and threats facing us in the near future.”
While there may be commitments in a war plan. Most Coasties don’t seem to have an idea what their war time roles would be. Perhaps this is an opportunity to address the apparent ambiguity. As discussed recently, a more explicit explanation of wartime roles for the Coast Guard could go a long way toward informing choices in the procurement of platforms and equipment, particularly the Offshore Patrol Cutter.
A second line, while addressed specifically at the Navy’s close formal relationship with the Marine Corps, suggest there will be an effort to minimize duplication of effort, “We will develop concepts to guide future amphibious operations, building on the ongoing “Single Naval Battle” effort with the Marine Corps.”
Where might we eliminated duplication of tasks and platforms between the Navy and Coast Guard?
As a side note one of the items addressed as a “fundamental responsibility” under the principle “Warfighting First.”
We deployed (and will keep) in the Arabian Gulf new mine hunting and neutralizing equipment, improved torpedoes; advance electromagnetic sensors, “up-gunned” patrol craft (emphasis applied–Chuck), and USS PONCE as an afloat forward staging base.
The reference to patrol craft may be exclusively to the Navy’s Cyclone Class, but some of the patrol craft in the vicinity are USCG. I haven’t seen anything indicating that their armament has been changed. Also have not seen any indication the Coasties are coming home. Could this become a long term standing commitment? Will the 110s be replaced by Webber class Fast Response Cutters?
I’ve added a new page to the blog, intended to provide some insight into the heritage of the Coast Guard. Check it out and if have any suggestions for items that might be added please leave a comment.
Just a short note to highlight the existence of a couple of unusual units that may not be familiar. They have an important, if largely unrecognized mission. These are the Coast Guard’s Maritime Force Protection Units Bangor, WA and Kings Bay, GA.
The units are perhaps unique in that they have only a single mission, and they are funded by the Navy. They protect Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines while they transit on the surface, to and from their homeports. The possibility of a USS Cole style attack motivated their creation. Each unit consist of approximately 200 Coasties and is commanded by an O-5. Having CG crews and carrying CG colors and markings allows them to enforce a security zone around the subs. Both units stood up in July 2007.
They have some unique equipment too, including four 87 footers that were purchased with Navy funds. They are recognizable because of the stabilized remotely controlled machine guns mounted high on the bow.
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Photo Credit: KEYPORT, Wash. (Aug. 18, 2009) U. S. Coast Guardsmen man the rails as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sea Fox (WPB 87374) is brought to life at Naval Base Kitsap. (U.S. Navy photo Ray Narimatsu/Released)
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The names chosen for these Navy purchased vessels all reprise submarines that fought in WWII. A contemporary report on the arrival of Sea Devil indicates these 87 footers are manned differently as well,
“To carry out its new mission, the Sea Devil carries more crew than most 87-footers, who require more training than most, and it packs more firepower.
“Instead of 11 “racks,” or beds, and a crew of 10, the Sea Devil will carry 12 racks and a crew of 15 because of the extra hours and training anticipated for the unique mission.
“Along with two .50-caliber automatic weapons mounted on each side of the vessel, a third is mounted near the bridge.”
They have a lot of other boats as well, including some non-standard types, like the one in which the Chairman of the Joint Chief took a ride.
Photo Credit: Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pilots a 64-foot Special Purpose Craft in Puget Sound, Oct. 04, 2012, as part of a familiarization tour of Coast Guard units in the Pacific Northwest. The special purpose craft is based at the Marine Force Protection Unit in Silverdale, Wash. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw.
Thanks to Tim Colton and Lee Walher for help preparing this.
Defense News reports, the Air Force is again trying to buy a new Combat SAR helicopter to replace their HH-60s. This will not be an easy program. It ran into legal problems during an earlier attempt, but this is one the CG may want to watch. The program is expected to span 14 years, and the CG MH-60s are now expected to require replacement beginning in 2022. If the program is successful, the CG may be able to ride the coattails of a mature program.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 