March 27, MarineLog reported the launching and christening of USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) at VT Halter Marine, one of the eight yards reportedly bidding on the Offshore Patrol Cutter Contract. With a reported length of 353 feet, a beam of 58 feet, and a displacement of 5,000 tons, this ship is almost certainly larger than the projected Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), perhaps twice as large, yet it is reported to have cost only $87M (FY2010), while the OPCs will be in the neighborhood of $300 each, why the difference?

There is the difference in speed, the Maury’s max is 16 knots, while that of the OPC is 22-25. The OPC has aviation facilities, weapons, communications equipment, and sensors that the Maury does not. Maury is the seventh ship of the Pathfinder Class, although it is modified by the addition of a “moon pool” and 24 feet additional length, so they have some advantage of experience. The OPC will be built to a higher standard of survivability. Inflation in the ship building industry is higher than for the economy as a whole, so costs will be up by the time the first OPC construction contract is awarded in perhaps 2015. The $87M represents only the amount paid to he yard while the Coast Guard’s cost will include government furnished equipment, supporting personnel costs, and changes to infrastructure.

The OPCs certainly will not be this inexpensive, but it does provide some hope that they can be built at something close to the projected price.

Reuters  reports, “Egypt’s coastguard caught three divers cutting through an undersea Internet cable on Wednesday, the army said, the first suggestion criminals might be involved in days of severed connections and disruptions online.”

This is a different kind of terrorism–or is it just industrial sabotage?

(Thanks to a reader for the link)

Some interesting comments on the Deepwater Horizon Spill response here: http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/611313/u-s-coast-guard-captain-talks-of-bloated-response-to-gulf-spill-at-b-c-symposium/

Photo: JGSDF LR-2 in Okadama STA.

NavyRecognition is reporting the Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company has developed an integrated sensor package to convert the KingAir 350ER (extended range) into a Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

This isn’t the first time this airfame has been used as a maritime patrol aircraft. It is used by several navies and coast guards including Japan and Malta. It is also used by the Argentine Navy, Ecuadorian Navy, and Indian Boarder Security. (A flight report on the civilian version is here.)

The Beech King Air is used by all four DOD armed forces under the designation C-12. including a new MC-12 ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) aircraft deployed to Afghanistan. It is also used by the FAA and by NOAA,

Perhaps most significantly, the type is also being used to recapitalize the Customs and Border Protection air fleet and includes an air to air intercept as well as maritime surface search radar capability.

In some respects, this might fill the void in the Coast Guard’s aviation program left by deferment of the land based UAV program. With performance similar to the HC-144, lower operating costs, and endurance of up to twelve hours, while it may not have the ultimate endurance of some UAVs, it has a greater useful load than all but the largest UAVs and consequently can carry more capable sensors, and would require no special dispensation, to function in the national airspace, as UAVs currently do.

gCaptain has an interesting time lapse video of the replacement of Z-drives on USCGC Barbara Mabrity (WLM-559). She is part of the USCG’s 175-foot Keeper Class Coastal Class Buoy Tenders, equipped with Z-Drive propulsion units instead of the standard propeller and rudder configuration. The Z-drives independently rotate 360 degrees.

Navy Recognition has photos of a new Chinese CIWS, an 11 barrel 30mm. It might be surprising that they have developed a new gun, rather than a missile based CIWS, but you will note in the proto below, they also have a missile system similar in concept to the US/German developed RAM. Also visible are an ASW/anti-torpedo rocket launcher and a decoy launcher.

You can also see the system here: http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2013/03/photos-of-day-pumping-lead-liaoning.html

The Acquisitions Directorate is reporting that the first of the new class of “Long Range Interceptor” boats arrived in Alameda to equip the Bertholf on Feb. 20. The 38 knot boat is 35 feet long, and has a range of 220 nmi.