Category Archives: Bear class

WMEC 270 SLEP / USCGC Legare Begins Service Life Extension Program at Coast Guard Yard

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The Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912) weighs anchor near the Statue of Liberty in New York City, New York, March 17, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Legare)

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) website includes a photo of USCGC Legare (WMEC-912) and the caption “270- foot medium endurance cutter Legare begins service life extension program at Coast Guard Yard.” Normally clicking on the caption would lead to a post expanding on the title, but in this case, it takes you to the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page. That page gives us this information about the 270 SLEP.

“Service life extension program for the 270-foot medium endurance cutters involves targeted system replacement to address system reliability, supportability, obsolescence and in­teroperability. This work will include upgrades or replacements to the electrical power generation and distribution system as well as the main propulsion engines. The mission is to facilitate continued operations during transition to the offshore patrol cutter by extending the service life of 270-foot cutters for up to 10 years. Work began on one prototype vessel at the Coast Guard Yard in July 2021 and on the second cutter in April 2022. Full production is scheduled to begin in 2023.”

The intention is not to SELP all 13 WMEC270s, rather they did two limited prototype SLEPS (Seneca, WMEC-906, and Harriet Lane, WMEC-903), and plan to do six full production SLEPs. These 270s should be the last WMECs in commission as they are replaced by Argus class Offshore Patrol Cutters. Harriet Lane’s most visible change was removal of her 76mm Mk75 gun and Mk92 fire control system. A 25mm Mk38 remote weapon station was mounted on the bow on an elevated position. This change is to be applied to all subsequent 270 SLEPs.

Spencer, (WMEC-905) was the first full production 270 SLEP. Spencer was the first 270 to receive new engines. Spencer’s old engines were to be remanufactured and reinstalled on a subsequent WMEC270 SLEP, presumably the newly arrived Legare.

This is a long process. Work on Harriet Lane lasted 15 months, so I expect we will have at least one 270 in the Yard being SLEPed for the next five years.

USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905) arrives in Praia, Cabo Verde” –LANT Area

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U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC 905) underway on patrol in the Eastern Pacific, January 2021. The crew covered over 11,000 miles seizing over $10 million of drugs and assisted in disrupting transnational crime organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo/Released)

Below is an Atlantic Area news release reporting the arrival of Cutter Spencer for operations off West Africa. This is getting to be almost routine, and it seems to have become a regular assignment for 270 foot WMECs. As can be seen by these previous reports, Spencer was preceded by Mohawk, Bear, and Thetis.

These operations, as well as those in the Western Pacific and SW Asia, demonstrate a recognition of the Coast Guard’s utility as an instrument of foreign policy and show that smaller cutters can be used in some of these roles, in some cases, reaching ports larger vessels might not be able to enter.

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905) arrives in Praia, Cabo Verde

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Editors’ Note: To view more or download high-resolution imagery, click on the photo above

By U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

PRAIA, Cabo Verde – The Famous-class medium endurance USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905) arrived in Praia, Cabo Verde for a scheduled port visit Monday.

This port visit marks the first stop for Spencer, while employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of operations. Spencer’s visit to Praia demonstrates NAVAF and the U.S. Coast Guard’s commitment and longstanding partnership to work with our African partners to counter illicit maritime activity in the Atlantic Ocean. During the port visit, Spencer will embark maritime counterparts from Cabo Verde, Senegal and The Gambia.

“The crew is excited for this unique opportunity, and we look forward to working with our partners to regulate fisheries and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing,” said Cmdr. Corey Kerns, Spencer’s commanding officer.

The U.S. Coast Guard regularly integrates and operates within the NAVAF area of operations. The U.S. Coast Guard’s authorities and capabilities provide the Joint Force with unique tools that bridge the cooperation-to-conflict continuum.

Cabo Verde is an important partner of the United States in promoting peace and security in Africa. In December 2022, the U.S. and Cabo Verde signed a memorandum of understanding for defense cooperation between the two countries, which will focus on continuing to counter illicit maritime activities through security cooperation. Later this month, Cabo Verde will participate in the NAVAF-led exercise Obangame Express 2022, the largest annual maritime security exercise in Western Africa. These types of exercises strengthen partnerships and allow countries to work more closely on shared transnational maritime challenges.

“The U.S. Embassy in Praia proudly welcomes the arrival of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer to Cabo Verde.  This ship visit is yet another example of the growing cooperation between U.S. and Cabo Verdean maritime forces, which is improving safety and security for our two nations and the entire region,” said Jeff Daigle, U.S. Ambassador to Cabo Verde.

The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

In April 2022, as part of the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), the U.S. and African maritime forces, led by Cabo Verde, worked in coordination with the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N), the International Police (INTERPOL), and Cabo Verde’s national Maritime Operations Center (COSMAR) to conduct a compliant boarding of a fishing vessel, which led to the seizure of approximately 6,000 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $350 million.

The Famous-class medium endurance cutters support the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime law enforcement and search and rescue missions. These cutters are capable of supporting flight operations with either a MH-65 Dolphin or a MH-60 Jayhawk.

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, oversees all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf, spanning across five Coast Guard districts and 40 states.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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