Submarines for Counter-Drug Ops?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Chuck Hill

There has been a report that the Colombians are purchasing two subs from Germany, and that “The U206s are critical to Colombia’s fight against the drug gangs’ semi-submersible vessels.”

I also see a need for ASW assets to deal with the problem, but the Type 206A subs are tiny, slow, and old enough to be Coast Guard Cutters (They have crossed the Atlantic for exercises). The newest entered service in 1975. Their systems have been updated, they do have passive detection systems, but there have got to be easier and cheaper ways to detect drug subs and self propelled semi-submersibles.

It will be interesting to see how they are actually used. If this does work, will the Coast Guard get their own subs?

(Photo credit Zatoichi1564 (talk) via Wikimedia Commons)

Texas Coast Guard?

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Chuck Hill

Perhaps motivated by events on Falcon Lake and the general boarder lawlessness, Texas seems to be taking on a job that looks like it should be handled by the Coast Guard, DEA, and DHS. They are buying six machinegun equipped Riverine Gunboats (defensetech.org/2012/03/01/texas-preparing-its-own-riverine-navy/) that would look right at home with the Navy’s Expeditionary Combat Command.

(Thanks to Lee for the heads up)

Canada’s Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Chuck Hill

Ran across an interesting presentation of the design of Canada’s projected Arctic Offshore Patrol ship (pdf). This apparently dates back to 2008, but it is the most detailed presentation I have seen on their concept.

While probably not as capable as the Healey, which is more than twice as large, something similar might be able to fill the Coast Guard’s stated requirement for two additional medium icebreakers.

The design has several interesting features

It is designed to IACS Polar Class 5, “Year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions” with a double acting hull form.
It includes three RHIBs and a landing craft, in addition to two 70 man covered lifeboats.
Flight Deck and hanger sized to support a helicopter larger than the H-60 (the CH-148).
Propulsion is diesel electric using Azipods. Power is provided by four generators (Can’t say I’m comfortable with how they achieved redundancy by using a centerline bulkhead to split two main machinery spaces into four).
It incorporates provision for carrying five containers, and has a 10 ton crane on the main deck aft.
Requires a relatively small crew (45) but includes provision for an additional 40.

Compared to the Wind Class Icebreakers that once made up most to the Coast Guard fleet, they are slightly larger (6,940 tons vs 6,500), much longer (359.5 ft vs 269), narrower (59.7 ft vs 63.5), much more powerful (20,100 HP vs 12,000), and faster (20 knots vs 16.8).

Compared to the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Svalbard on which it is based it is 50% more powerful.

We can’t be sure at this point, that this is the ship the Canadian’s will build, but it’s probably pretty close.

We’ve Lost an Aircraft, CG 6535, 28 Feb., 2012

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Chuck Hill

We lost CG6535 with a crew of four on board. Announcement here. The wreckage has been located.

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Chuck Hill

I got these images second hand (perhaps third, forth, or fifth hand), so I can’t say where they came from or the date taken, but I think they are instructive for how they show how a vessel can be much more than it appears. Reportedly, this is a Russian trawler that was stationed off the Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine base at Holy Lock, Scotland. That they were not there to fish was general knowledge, but I think the extent of modifications to the underwater body, particularly the apparent addition of torpedo tubes, may be a bit of a surprise.

Looking a bit closer:

(Thanks to Robert Stoner and Tim Wind)

State of the Coast Guard Address/New Standing Orders (Pub 3)

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Chuck Hill

The Commandant issued his State of the Coast Guard address today. You can access it here. I had trouble with the video, but the text is also there (Remarks from ADM Robert Papp (14 pages – 178.93KB)). It is a good speech, as you might expect. He spoke from Alameda, recognizing the increasing importance of the Pacific and the Arctic that together constitutes approximately 84% of the US EEZ.

It is worth the read. There weren’t too many operational specifics but there was reference one specific planned future operation, seasonal deployment of the Bertholf and buoy tenders to the Arctic.

The same page has a pdf download for what the Commandant likened to standing order, Coast Guard Publication 3-0 (Pub 3), Operations (56 pages – 5.55 MB).

Nautical Museum/Light House/Tall Ship Info

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Chuck Hill

Ran across a site some of you might find interesting. It provides a way to find museums, light houses and tall ships throughout the US and at least in some cases in Canada. The particular page I linked also has a couple of USCGC Eagle videos and the schedule for the twelve ports the Eagle will visit in conjunction with “Operation Sail.”

Navy Partner being Disestablished

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Chuck Hill

Interesting little note that proves again actions speak louder than words. An asset that supported the drug interdiction effort and helped in the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief is going away.

“…the Navy proposes to decommission a squadron at the air station in Belle Chasse, a move that would eliminate the only naval aviation unit dedicated to stemming the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States. Under the 2013 spending plan released Monday, the Navy Reserve’s Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 77 would cease to exist Sept. 30…. the Navy ‘remains committed’ to countering narcotics trafficking.”

“VAW-77…played an instrumental role in the massive rescue operation following Hurricane Katrina. With their electronics and radar…the aircrews helped control airspace crowded with rescue helicopters. The squadron takes credit for rescuing 1,840 people in the New Orleans area.”

I suppose the surface surveillance capability may be replace by the BAMS program, still too frequently, it seems, a capability is removed with the promise that it will be replaced by a wonderful new system, only to see the new system become unaffordable and never come to fruition.

DoD photo by: MC3 (SW) JOHN HYDE, USN Date Shot: 13 Jul 2006

(Thanks to Lee for the info)

New Budget Cancels Plan for Last Two NSCs

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Chuck Hill

U.S. Coast Guard photo ID: 100228-G-2129M-004, by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Metcalf

Defensedaily.com is reporting that while the FY 2013 budget request would fund the sixth National Security Cutter, additional purchases would be delayed while the Department reevaluates its needs.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said yesterday that the reason for proposing a pause in the NSC program is due to budget constraints as well as examining how it fits with the Navy’s plans.

“We will look at [NSC’s] seven and eight in light of what the Navy is doing,” Napolitano told the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee during a hearing to examine her department’s budget request. “So we need to look at what the DoD is doing with respect to their own force lay down to see what we need to be putting in the acquisition pipeline.”

Presumably this ties in with the Navy’s review of their own programs.

It has been recognized for a long time that current plans would require a substantial increase in AC&I funding. The GAO has called the program of record “unachievable.”

While I certainly applaud coordination with DOD, this could mean a lot of different things.

Will the Navy try to move the Littoral Combat Ship program to the CG as replacement for the OPC?

Will the Navy try to avoid cutting their building programs further by suggesting that the CG does not need large ships for drug enforcement because they will supply platforms for CG boarding teams? or

This might not be so bad. When Under Secretary of the Navy Robert O. Work discusses American Sea Power, he almost never fails to mention the contribution of the Coast Guard. Perhaps some additional thought will go into how possible military roles should be reflected in the requirements for Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC), Icebreakers, and other assets.

An OPC that reflects military requirements would almost certainly be larger and more capable than one designed only to meet peacetime requirements that might otherwise have been forced on the CG in an austere budget climate. Those greater capabilities probably would also make it a more capable CG asset in peacetime.

The differences might include a larger hull, more speed, better aviation facilities, and better communications and sensors, possibly including a towed array that would be useful for detecting drug subs (both true subs and self propelled semi-submersibles).

Its not clear yet, if this is a disaster or an opportunity. Perhaps a new way of justifying CG assets will come out of this, and the government will see that putting money in the CG is a sound investment.

Less Lethal Weapons on USVs