The Coast Guard has begun a new SeaPay system as reported by Coast Guard All Hands.

The new five-table system takes into consideration desirability of different cutter platforms, personnel tempo, deployment lengths and programmed operational hours.

“We made a conscious decision to shift most of the sea pay increases to mid-level enlisted paygrades in an effort to incentivize them to return to sea duty assignments,” said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell. “A three-level system just wasn’t enough, and it didn’t allow flexibility to change with the times. These changes don’t take place in a vacuum – a lot of decision and a lot of discussion went into these just to get it right.”

This system is relatively complex, but it appears a realistic effort to achieve the stated goals.

Can’t help believe this only happened because we have a “Cutterman” as Commandant who understands that all sea duty is not equal.

The linked post includes the five pay charts.

The US Naval Institute’s News Service has provided access to a Coast Guard report to Congress mandated in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-281).

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on any gaps that exist in writings on the history of the Coast Guard. The report shall address, at a minimum, operations , broad topics, and biographies with respect to the Coast Guard.”

The document is relatively short. There is a fairly long list of topics, but I’m not sure how useful it is. I am sure Bill Wells will have something to say about this.

It seems lately we have seen more from the Atlantic Area Historian than from the Coast Guard Historian.

It also seems the Coast Guard has not “weaponized” its history. The Coast Guard is not using it to enhance the image of the service.

US Navy photo, USS Halsey (DDG 97)

The US Naval Institute reports that the Navy intends to put auxiliary electric motors, or hybrid electric drive (HED) system, on 34 Burke Flight IIA guided missile destroyers (DDGs), by adding an electric motors to a preexisting quill drives in the main reduction gear. Reportedly these will power the vessels at up to 13 knots.

These systems will not only save money when the ships are cruising slowly, they will also allow them to remain on station longer.

Although the typical diesel power plant on cutters is more efficient at low speeds than the DDG’s gas turbines, a HED should also be applicable to Coast Guard cutters. We do seem to spend a lot of time cruising slowly. It would also provide a redundant propulsion system as a backup if the main engines were disabled. I am hoping there will be something similar on the Offshore Patrol Cutter.

Another country has begun procuring ships similar to my proposal for “Cutter X.” In this case it is four vessels for the Sultanate of Oman. The program is already well underway. Naval Technology reports two of the four ships have already been accepted and the remaining two should be delivered by the third quarter of 2016. Total cost was reportedly approximately $700M.

It appears that this class may have provided the basis for the design of Singapore’s slightly larger “Littoral Mission Vessel,” (LMV) we talked about earlier, the first of which was launched in July.)

These ships are intended to replace four much smaller 25 meter (82 foot) Al Seeb class patrol boats. In fact it appears that they will receive the names of the vessels they replace.

Power is two 20V8000 MTU diesels, providing roughly 24,000 HP, for a max speed of 25 knots. Endurance is reportedly 14 days with a range of 3,000 miles at 16 knots which should give a range of about 4,500 miles at a slower speed of 10-12 knots.

Armament is an Oto Melara 76mm and two Oto Melara 30mm remotely controlled machine guns.

A clear view of the ships mast, bridge, and electronics can be seen here.

Dimensions:

• Length, 75 m (246 ft) (overall); 72 meters (236.2) (waterline)
• Beam: 10.8 m (35.4 ft)
• Draught: 3.3 m (10.8 ft)
• Displacement: 1,250 tons

Recently the US Naval Institute put out a call for articles written by women. They got several on diverse subjects, but one in particular by a Coast Guard Academy graduate, Damage Control Assistant, boarding party member, and Diver got my attention, because it seems to indicate that, not only that we are not properly outfitting crew members that are smaller than average, but also that we may be putting their lives in dangers because they are not given gear that fits.

Earlier, we talked about the fact that a documentary about the Coast Guard’s response to Hurricane Katrina, called Paratus 14:50. You can watch it on-line here.

NavyRecognition is reporting that Saudi Arabia has contracted for 79 15 meter (49 foot)  Interceptor/Patrol Boats. This is part of a larger contract awarded to German shipbuilder Lurssen. These 15 meter boats were subcontracted to the French Shipyard Cauach.

MarineLink is reporting that Lockheed will be awarded a sole source contract to provide integrated combat management systems for the planned 20 frigate variants of the Littoral Combat Ships.

U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command announced its plan to award Lockheed a sole-source contract for development and construction of two initial combat systems in a federal notice earlier this month. The news was first reported this week by the U.S. Naval Institute News earlier this week.

Why might this system go on the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs)? The system is a modified version of the Aegis system. Apparently an outgrowth of the system already on the monohull Freedom class LCS. The National Security Cutters of the Bertolf Class also use a modified version of the Aegis system. Looking at the graphic above apparently from Lockheed you will not in the description that the system is intended for “patrol ships” and refers to PCC combat management systems.

The MarineLink article talks about an intention to do software upgrades to the existing systems on the Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships. Presumably there might also be upgrades to the system on the Betholf class.

If we are lucky (and smart) we may end up with common systems across the entire new generation of 33 large cutters. And hopefully the Navy will pay for it.  Having a common system over what could be 85 ships (32 LCS, 20 FF, 8 NSC, 25 OPC) has got to lead to some economies of scale.