The launch above looks a bit dicy. Here is a magazine article about their beach launching gear and its history.
Beach Launching with the RNLI
1
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Press Release: C-144 Update
Below is a press release from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9).
Test flights on the HC-144B Minotaur prototype aircraft began in March. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Acquisition Update: HC-144 Program Reaches Ocean Sentry Refresh, Minotaur Mission System Milestones
April 25, 2017
The Coast Guard’s HC-144 Ocean Sentry medium range surveillance (MRS) aircraft program reached two milestones last quarter. First, the HC-144 program received design approval and commenced Ocean Sentry Refresh (OSR) modifications at the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Second, the program completed the Minotaur mission system suite prototype integration efforts and began test flights at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
The OSR project upgrades the HC-144As with a new Flight Management System, which manages communication control, navigation and equipment monitoring. Upon completion of OSR upgrades, each aircraft is redesignated as an HC-144B. The Coast Guard’s Aircraft Configuration Control Board approved the HC-144B configuration and certified OSR upgrades as airworthy March 15. To date, two HC-144B aircraft have been produced: CGNR 2307, the prototype, and CGNR 2306, which validated and verified the changes.
Work to convert CGNR 2307 into the HC-144B Minotaur prototype began in July 2016, with integration and installation completed in January 2017. Coast Guard aircrews, along with Navy and industry personnel, began conducting test flights in March. Minotaur is mission system software architecture used across multiple Defense and Homeland Security department platforms. CGNR 2307 is scheduled for delivery this summer and is planned to enter service later this year.
For more information: HC-144 program page
Russia Builds Very Large Rescue Cutter–But Not for Their CG
NavyRecognition has a report on a new ships under construction, the Project 23700 rescue support ship Voyevoda. You might assume a rescue vessel would be built for their Coast Guard, but this was ordered by Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry and will be operated by the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot)
The Project 23700 ship Voyevoda is designed to support rescue operations and transport and supply small search and rescue craft. The ship can carry four boats and two helicopters. The vessel has a displacement of 7,500 tons, a length of 111 meters, a width of 24 meters, a speed of 22 knots and endurance of 5,000 miles.
Novel Gun Mount
NavalToday has a short piece on the new German F-125 frigate. It is primarily to show the video above, of the frigate firing its 27mm guns and 5″/64 Otobreda.
The unusual aspect of the video is the way the mounts for the 27mm guns lean out (see 1:25). I’m not sure it is worth the complication, but it does permit the gun to fire at targets close alongside near the waterline. It probably means it can be fired on bearings closer to the bow and stern too.
Thanks to Mike R. for bringing this to my attention.
Something to Think About
Cruise ships are getting huge. The crowd you see above are all getting into one lifeboat. Its a test of a new double decker lifeboat with a capacity of 440 passengers. When the MS Princendam sank in 1980, there were only 350 passengers and 200 crew. That was a huge rescue effort. Next one might be ten times as large.
MarineLink has the story on the lifeboat.
2017 Book Recommendations From The Coast Guard’s Top Admiral–gCaptain
gCaptain reports the Commandant’s book recommendations for 2017.
They previously reported his recommendations for 2016.
President Trump to Speak at CG Academy Commencement
Following is a press release quoted in full:
NEW LONDON, CONN. – The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is preparing to host President Donald J. Trump, who is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at graduation on Wednesday May 17, following a White House announcement earlier today.
The135th Commencement Exercises are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Cadet Memorial Field.
“Every commencement is a special occasion, but it is particularly memorable when the President presents our future leaders with their commissions,” said Academy Superintendent Rear Adm. James E. Rendon. “We are also grateful for the opportunity to highlight our Academy and our mission to develop leaders of character for the Coast Guard and the nation.”
The President traditionally addresses the graduating class at one of the federal service academies on a rotating basis. President Obama came to the Academy in 2015. This will be the first time President Trump addresses a federal service academy graduating class as Commander in Chief.
The event is not open to the public. Inclement weather plans call for the graduation to be held in Leamy Hall Auditorium, where seating will be limited.
State of the Coast Guard Address, 2017
The Commandant resently completed the 2017 State of the Coast Guard address. You can watch it here. You can read the text in pdf format here.
Maritime Civil Affairs–Should This Navy Mission More Properly Belong to the Coast Guard?
The Small Wars Journal has an article, “Maritime Civil Affairs” by Paul W. Taylor, decrying the Navy’s failure to adequately provide for Maritime Civil Affairs.
He describes this mission as follows:
“Those military operations that enhance the relationship between military forces and civil authorities in localities where maritime forces are present; require interaction and consultation with other maritime interagency, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations; indigenous maritime populations and institutions; and the maritime private sector; and which involve application of maritime functional skills to problems that normally are the responsibility of civil government to enhance the conduct of civil-military operations.”
And he sees the requisite skill set as:
- Protection of the maritime environment;
- Operation and maintenance of ports, harbors and waterways;
- Governance of maritime environments, industry, and resources; and
- Maritime law enforcement, security, and safety, including migration control.
First, I am not surprised the Navy has had a hard time filling this role, and second, this sound a whole lot like Coast Guard missions.
Technical Difficulties
The blog has encountered some techical difficulties recently. At least in some cases photos have overlapped the text.
I have informed tech support at WordPress and hopefully a fix is in the works.
As a bandaid solution, I am adding a few extra line spaces below any photo in hopes of showing all the text.
