The U.S. Coast Guard conducts operations with the USS Spruance
PACIFIC OCEAN (March 28, 2025) “A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T conducts flight operations with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. U.S. Navy assets are employed under U.S. Northern Command’s maritime homeland defense authorities with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment embarked to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activity. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the Southern border with additional military forces.” (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter)

Below is a Coast Guard District 11 news release.

I believe, this is the first time Navy units operating under Third Fleet have been involved in Migrant interdiction efforts. With USS Spruance on the West Coast and USS Gravely on the Gulf coast, its obvious DOD has been told to show up.

Small numbers of Navy ships, usually frigates or littoral combat ships, have routinely engaged in drug interdiction under the direction of Forth Fleet and SOUTHCOM, and have rescued migrants during unusual surges of immigrants like the Mariel Boat Lift of 1980.

For short periods during the first Trump administration, Navy ships were surged to Forth Fleet to augment drug interdiction efforts.

NORTHCOM has played little part in maritime interdiction of any kind, apparently satisfied that DHS was handling the job.

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 28, 2025) Members of the U.S. Coast Guard conduct small boat operations with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) and U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Terrell Horne (WPC 1131) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. U.S. Navy assets are employed under U.S. Northern Command’s maritime homeland defense authorities with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment embarked to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activity. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the Southern border with additional military forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter)

While I don’t think these destroyers will add much to the already substantial effort already being made by the Coast Guard and its regular partners, they do provide a degree of missile defense to the US coast that has been missing and a ready response in the event of a maritime terrorist attack in their vicinity, so I am glad to see them underway. US Navy crews may be overworked, but it is not because their ships are underway too much. The average USN combatant is underway less than 90 days a year.

Certainly, there is a desire to show results. There is an implication rather than a statement that the people on the boat were attempting to enter the US, but that is not really clear. “50 miles southwest of San Diego” suggests that the boat was in the Mexican EEZ, well South of the border, and a 35 foot boat is not typical of the Panga-style boats recently intercepted smuggling migrants along the West Coast. It could have broken down off San Diego and drifted South? Had the boat been tracked heading North? Did the American own the boat? Was the boat destroyed after the passengers and crew were removed? Time will tell. 

Coast Guard Cutter Active and partnership agencies interdict a migrant vessel, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Point Loma, California, Jan. 27, 2025. The crew of Active, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne and U.S. Customs and Border Protection members worked together to interdict this illegal migrant operation, which had 21 individuals aboard. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Based on the Coast Guard Historian’s timeline, https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
With inspiration from Mike Kelso

April 1

1813  At 1100 in the morning, while at anchor in Charleston Harbor, the powder room of the cutter Gallatin exploded, blowing off the cutter’s stern and quarterdeck.  The explosion and subsequent fire killed three crewmembers instantly and seriously wounded five more.  The cutter sank at its anchorage.  A Charleston newspaper reported, “Between the hours of ten and eleven yesterday forenoon, a most awful explosion took place in this harbor, on board the Revenue schooner GALLATIN, commanded by Capt. John. H. Silliman. . .There were about 35 persons in all on board; of this number about 10 were on the quarter deck and in the cabin; part of them employed in cleaning the arms. Thus situated, the dreadful explosion took place, and in one instant the whole quarter deck with all of those upon it, were hurled into the air. Some of the bodies were thrown nearly as high as the mast head of the vessel; others were driven through the cabin and lodged upon the main deck. The whole stern of the vessel was torn down to a level with the water.”  Those who were killed were Gunner’s Mate Thomas Feld, George Segur, and one unidentified seaman.  The reported wounded were William Pritchard (Gunner), John McCoan, Benjamin Chart, George Craft, and William Hunter (Boy).

1897  Under an Executive Order dated May 6, 1896, federal Civil Service rules were applied to the Life-Saving Service.

Elmer Stone, Coast Guard Aviator #1

1916  The official birthday of Coast Guard aviation.  On this date, Third Lieutenant Elmer F. Stone reported to Pensacola Naval Air Station for flight training.  He was the Coast Guard’s first aviator.

he bow and midsection of Coast Guard manned LST-884 being salvaged after 1 April 1945 Kamikaze attack, 9 July 1945. She was too damaged to be of any use and was sunk later in 1946.
US National Archives ID # 193705117, a US Army Air Corps photo now in the collections of the US National Archives

1945  The invasion of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands commenced.  In all, seven Coast Guard-manned transports, 29 LSTs, the cutters Bibb and Woodbine, and 12 Coast Guard-manned LCI(L)s participated in the bloodiest invasion ever undertaken by the United States.  Over 13,000 Americans were killed and another 36,000 were wounded during the conquest of this Japanese possession.

USS LST-884 crew photo. Notice the many different uniforms, a result of the crews loss of almost everything in the fire. This picture was taken once the crew was reunited at Ulithi.

The original 1903 Scotch Cap Light, located on the SW corner of Unimak Is., Alaska . US Coast Guard photos

1946  A tsunami swept away the light station at Scotch Cap, Alaska, killing the station’s entire five-man crew.  They were: BMC Anthony L. Petit, MoMM 2/c Leonard Pickering, F 1/c Jack Colvin, SN 1/c Dewey Dykstra, and SN 1/c Paul James Ness.

1967  The Coast Guard ended its 177-year association with the Treasury Department when it transferred to the newly-created Department of Transportation (DOT).  DOT was created when President Lyndon Johnson signed Executive Order 167-81.  The Coast Guard was the largest agency in the new department.

1969  The Coast Guard established an Ocean Engineering Division within the Office of Engineering.  The new division was formed to improve engineering support for the marine sciences and short-range aids to navigation missions.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/Dauntless_1968.html

1977  CGC Dauntless operating along with CGC Cape Fox in the area of Cay Lobos Bahamas boarded F/V Big Champ.  The boarding party discovered 5,000 lbs. of marijuana.  The vessel and marijuana were seized and the four POB were arrested.

USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) crew members inspecting a navigation buoy in Alaskan waters, date and location unknown. Photo courtesy Marine Exchange Alaska. Robert Hurst
http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/37/3709.htm

1978  CGC Acushnet changed designation from WAGO to WMEC “to allow for the increased multi-mission utilization of the vessel.”  Acushnet’s primary mission continued to be Marine Science Activities (MSA) “due to its special capabilities for environmental buoy deployment.”

The U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter USCGC Gallatin (WHEC-721) lies tied up at a pier at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, during exercise “Ocean Venture ’88”, on 30 March 1988.

1984  CGC Gallatin made the largest maritime cocaine seizure to date when it boarded and seized the 33-foot sailboat Chinook and her crew of two.  A boarding team discovered 1,800 pounds of cocaine stashed aboard the sailboat.

Based on the Coast Guard Historian’s timeline, https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
With inspiration from Mike Kelso

March 31

1932  The United States signed a Whaling Convention at Geneva with 21 other countries.

USCGC Tuscarora

1934  At high noon on March 15, 1934, CGC Tuscarora fired a shot from one of its batteries, a shot that started the fifth international St. Petersburg to Havana racing classic.  Tuscarora served as the official Coast Guard escort for the race.

World War II US Naval Districts from which the USCG Districts were derived.

1948  The Tenth District, with headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico and comprising of the Panama Canal Zone, all of the island possessions of the United States pertaining to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and all United States reservations in the islands of the West Indies and on the north coast of South America, was abolished, and its functions, responsibilities, and facilities were transferred to and combined with the Seventh District, with headquarters at Miami, Florida.

1995  Coast Guard Communication Area Master Station Atlantic sent a final message by Morse Code and then signed off, officially ending more than 100 years of telegraph communication.

Response Boat, Medium (RB-M). Photo from Vigor

2008  The U.S. Coast Guard took delivery of its first Response Boat–Medium (RB-M) from Marinette Marine Corporation.  Following completion of underway trials on March 17, 2008 near Tacoma, Washington, RB-M 45601 was trailered cross-country for delivery in Portsmouth, Virginia.  After one week of familiarization for the Coast Guard Transition Team (responsible for facilitating the introduction of the planned 180 boats to the fleet) Station Little Creek, Virginia took delivery of RB-M 45601 on April 7, 2008. The RB-M acquisition was initiated to replace the aging 41’ Utility Boats and other Non-Standard Boats.  The RB-M is a self-righting, 45-foot all-aluminum boat with twin diesel engines and water jet propulsion.

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett’s (WMSL 757) law enforcement team and Papua New Guinea shipriders return after a boarding in Papua New Guinea’s exclusive economic zone, Mar. 11, 2025. Papua New Guinea lies in the heart of key shipping routes and lucrative fisheries. The U.S. Coast Guard and Papua New Guinea collaborate to mitigate shared maritime challenges and threats, promoting regional security and stability within Oceania. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Nilson)

Below is a news release from US Coast Guard News.

Coast Guard Cutter Active and partnership agencies interdict a migrant vessel, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Point Loma (San Diego), California, Jan. 27, 2025. The crew of Active, the Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne and U.S. Customs and Border Protection members worked together to interdict this illegal migrant operation, which had 21 individuals aboard. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Below is a District 11 (California) news release.

We have seen a noticeable increase in West Coast migrant interdictions near the Southern border that suggested much increased human trafficking. This is apparently in response to that increase.

Based on the Coast Guard Historian’s timeline, https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
With inspiration from Mike Kelso

March 29

1867  The lighthouse at Timbalier Bay was destroyed in a hurricane.  The brick tower “was leveled to the ground and covered with from three to six feet of water.”  The Lighthouse Board commended the keepers, “who faithfully performed their duty, barely escaping with their lives, and living for some days in an iron can buoy . . .”

Members of the Overland Relief Expedition

1898  Lieutenants David Jarvis and Ellsworth P. Bertholf and Surgeon Dr. Samuel J. Call of the Revenue cutter Bear reached Point Barrow, Alaska, after a 2,000 mile “mush” from Nunavik Island that first started on December 17, 1897, driving reindeer as food for 97 starving whalers caught in the Arctic ice.  This Overland Rescue was heralded by the press and at the request of President William McKinley, Congress issued special gold medals in their honor.

1938  By an Executive Order of this date, President Franklin Roosevelt enlarged substantially the number of “personnel in the Lighthouse Service who are subject to the principle of the civil service,” which allowed advancement in the Service based solely on individual merit.

1984  Coast Guard AIRSTA Cape May and Group Cape May responded to severe flooding in southern New Jersey and Delaware after a late winter storm struck the area on March 29, 1984.  Coast Guardsmen evacuated 149 civilians from Cape May and Atlantic City.

1985  The last lightship in service with the Coast Guard, CGC Nantucket I, was decommissioned, thus ending 164 years of continuous lightship service by the U.S. Government.  Nantucket I was the last of the U.S. lightships and the last of the Nantucket Shoals lightships that watched over that specific area since June of 1854.  Launched as WLV-612 in 1950 at Baltimore, the ship also stood watch as the light vessel for San Francisco and Blunts Reef in California, at Portland, Oregon, and finally at Nantucket Shoals.  Nantucket I also spent time in service as a “less-than-speedy” law enforcement vessel off Florida.

Photograph of Ellsworth P. Bertholf, Commandant of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service from 1911 to 1915 and Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1915 to 1919. Coast Guard photo.

2005  The keel was laid for the first of the new 418-foot National Security Cutters, CGC Bertholf (WMSL-750), named for Commodore Ellsworth Bertholf, former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.  Bertholf was constructed at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  The cutter was christened on November 11, 2006 after being launched on September 29, 2006.  The Coast Guard commissioned Bertholf on August 4, 2008.

March 30

1867  The United States signed the Alaska purchase treaty with Russia.

Admiral Russell R. Waesche, Sr., USCG Commandant 1936 to 1945

1942  By Presidential proclamation, the Coast Guard was designated as a service of the Navy to be administered by the Commandant of Coast Guard under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, similar to the administration of the Marine Corps.

As Commandant from 1936 through 1945 Waesche insured the successful integration of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, a purely civilian agency, with the Coast Guard in 1939 as ordered by President Franklin Roosevelt. He also presided over the greatest expansion of the USCG in its history and made sure the service maintained its separate identity while it was under the administrative control of the U.S. Navy. Admiral Waesche saw his small peacetime fleet swell with Coast Guardsmen manning more than 750 cutters, 3,500 miscellaneous smaller craft, 290 Navy vessels, and 255 Army vessels. The Coast Guard participated in every major amphibious operation. Furthermore, activities at all Coast Guard air stations were increased as aviators engaged in anti-submarine and convoy escort operations and performed numerous search and rescue missions. In 1943 Waesche also secured Congressional support for the Coast Guard’s return to the control of the Treasury Department as quickly as possible after the end of the Second World War. In doing this, the service avoided the problems that occurred after the end of the First World War when the Navy attempted to maintain its control of the Coast Guard.

Admiral Waesche earned praise from the Secretary of the Navy for his stewardship of the Coast Guard during the Second World War.

After the longest tenure as Commandant, Admiral Waesche retired from the Coast Guard effective 1 January 1946. He died later that year on 17 October 1946 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 October. Two weeks after he retired Navy Secretary James Forrestal decorated Admiral Waesche with the Distinguished Service Medal for “exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commandant, United States Coast Guard.”

In March 1946 President Harry S. Truman nominated the ten top U.S. wartime generals and admirals to retain permanently their wartime ranks. At the same time the President announced the formation of an “elder statesmen’s organization” for national defense consisting of those ten officers. Admiral Waesche was one of those officers so-designated.

Though largely responsible for the efficient expansion of the service, Admiral Waesche also improved the traditional functions of the Coast Guard. The activities on the Great Lakes and the inland waterways were extended and intensified. His administration placed increased emphasis on maritime safety, icebreaking, and aids to navigation. As Commandant he also took a keen interest in the work in the field and frequently made personal inspections of district units and activities. In short his tenure as Commandant was one of the most successful in the service’s distinguished history.

Admiral Waesche received an honorary degree as Doctor of Engineering from Purdue University in February, 1944. He was elected President of the Society of American Military Engineers in May, 1944. He was survived by his wife, Agnes R. Cronin, and four sons, three of whom entered military service. His oldest son, Russell Randolph Waesche, Jr., later retired from the Coast Guard as a flag officer.

gCaptain reports, “Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Storis’ To Achieve Initial Operating Readiness by August 2025.”

“[The vessel] should achieve its initial operating capability operating up in the Arctic August of this year,” Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan stated during a joint session of the state’s legislature.

The ship still will not have been modified to its final form, but it is probably a good idea to get some experience with the ship.

The complete buildout and conversion of the vessel will take an additional year, according to Sullivan. The USCG previously stated that selection of the crew of 60 will begin in Summer 2026. It is unclear how the vessel will be staffed for the 2025 patrol.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) identifies a sailing vessel suspected of illicit activity while underway in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 19, 2025. During a law enforcement boarding, the crew discovered approximately 637 pounds of cocaine hidden onboard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Cutter Mohawk)

Below is a news release. The story on this interdiction caught my attention.

Mohawk’s crew jointly interdicted a go-fast style vessel with James’ crew off the coast of Colombia, seizing more than 5,900 pounds of cocaine. Coordinating with a maritime patrol aircraft, Mohawk’s pursuit caused the go-fast vessel to jettison bails of cocaine overboard for later recovery. James’ crew proceeded to stop the go-fast vessel and apprehend three suspected narcotics smugglers for future prosecution.

Why wasn’t Mohawk able to complete the interdiction?

Only thing I could figure was that Mohawk did not have a HITRON helicopter. There is no mention of a HITRON detachment assigned to MOHAWK. There is this statement that suggests MOHAWK had no helicopter.

Furthermore, the Mohawk’s crew participated in training evolutions with James’ embarked Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aviation detachment and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Mohawk interdicted a sailboat and a fishing vessel, but it looks like the go-fast outran her. Fortunately another cutter with HITRON detachment was there to backstop them. 

Why did we send a 270, equipped with both a flight deck and hangar, from Key West to the Eastern Pacific without an airborne use of force capability? Is there a shortage?