A foreign fishing vessel pulling a shark aboard while conducting shark finning operations in the North Pacific, May 12, 2024. Regional Fisheries Management Organizations regulate the process of shark finning through Conservation and Management Measures. These measures require fully utilizing retained catches of sharks and limits on amounts of fins onboard in relation to those sharks. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Below is a news release from District 17 regarding IUU Fisheries enforcement involving not only the US Coast Guard but also Canada, Japan, and S. Korea.

Also thought the video immediately below might be of interest. The Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir Wilfrid Laurier that was part of the operation looks like a buoy tender, but it is more than twice as large as USCG buoy tenders, larger in fact than the National Security Cutters by full load displacement. She was commissioned in 1986 and is capable of light icebreaking, operating in the Arctic, and has a helicopter deck and collapsable hangar.

The US Coast Guard has started using buoy tenders to do fisheries and to support and resupply fast response cutter including operations in the Western Pacific and Eastern Pacific drug transit areas.

I would not be surprised if the Coast Guard’s next class of buoy tenders were not also designed as similar larger, long range, multipurpose ships but unlike the Canadian ships, armed and faster than 15.5 knots.

USCGC Juniper, oldest of US WLBs is 28 years old and since it seems to take ten years from the initiation of a shipbuilding program to delivery, it is not too early to start thinking about the next generation. An early start might allow us to produce a proven tested prototype before we need to contract to replace the entire class.

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

1919  Congress passed the National Prohibition Enforcement Act, otherwise known as the Volstead Act, on this date.  The Volstead Act authorized the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, ratified on January 29, 1919.  The Act authorized the Coast Guard to prevent the maritime importation of illegal alcohol.  This led to the largest increase in the size and responsibilities of the service to date.

USS LST-71 at anchor in the harbor at Fiji, 12 September 1943.
6th Special Navy Construction Battalion (N.C.B.) Photo

1943  Choiseul, Treasury Islands landing commenced (Coast Guard-manned LST-71 was in second echelon November 1, 1943).

1966  Coast Guard LORAN Station Con Son in Vietnam became fully operational.

More details
Original caption: “Gitmo airfield converted for 10,000 migrants”

1991  Thousands of Haitian migrants began fleeing their homeland after the overthrow of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, prompting one of the largest SAR operations in Coast Guard history.  Cutters and aircraft from as far north as New England converged on the Windward Passage.  In the first 30 days of the operation, Coast Guard forces rescued more than 6,300 men, women, and children who left Haiti in grossly overloaded and unseaworthy vessels.  Seventy-five Coast Guard units ultimately took part in the massive SAR operation and by the end of the year over 40,000 Haitian migrants were rescued.

Tsunami warning after 7.7 earthquake off Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)

2012  The Coast Guard Captain of the Port of Honolulu ordered the evacuation of Honolulu Harbor after a tsunami warning was issued after an earthquake struck the Haida Gwaii archipelago in western Canada.

Future USCGC Argus building at Eastern. Eastern Shipyard photo.

Real Clear Defense has a post written by Commander Justin Matejka, national security affairs fellow for the 2024–25 academic year at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

It discusses the organizational and political problems the Coast Guard faces in achieving effective management, particularly the disjointed and conflicting oversight in Congress and the lack of a dedicated Departmental advocate.

My personal observation is that while the Congressional oversight process is burdensome and poorly organized, Congress has generally been supportive. Much of our problems stem from a failure to convincingly document the Coast Guard’s needs and value to earn the support of the Executive branch including the DHS. Failure to continuously update the Fleet Mix Study or provide a long-term shipbuilding plan being primary examples.

Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk’s (WMEC 613) Mk 75 weapon system fires, Aug. 16, 2024, during a gunnery exercise in the Florida Straits. Mohawk was the last Famous-class medium endurance cutter to fire the onboard Mk 75 mm gun weapon system as large caliber weapon systems onboard these cutters are being modernized for the service life extension program. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Brian Morel)

Below is a Coast Guard news release. It is otherwise a pretty typical patrol report, but I wanted to call your attention to one paragraph,

“Of note, this patrol marked a significant historical event for the Coast Guard’s Famous-class medium endurance cutter fleet. Mohawk was the last in its class to fire the onboard Mk 75 mm gun weapon system. The largest caliber weapon in the Coast Guard inventory, it has been utilized by Famous-class cutters like Mohawk since they were first commissioned in the 1980’s. Now, large caliber weapon systems onboard Famous-class cutters are being modernized for a service life extension program.”

Does this really mean the Coast Guard is stopping support for all 76mm gun and Mk92 fire control systems even though only six WMEC270s are expected to receive the full life extension program? USCGC Harriet Lane which went through a partial SLEP, has also swapped out her 76mm for a 25mm Mk38, but that still leaves six WMEC270s that will not go through the service life extension program. Will they also lose their 76mm guns?

The 25mm Mk38 is a poor substitute for the 76mm gun that is upgradable and still in service with about 40 countries.

On Monday (21/10/2024) Indonesian Coast Guard and Navy expelled CCG 5402 (left center) from North Natuna Sea after it was reported to have disrupted seismic survey activities. In the photo, the Indonesian CG vessel, KN Tj data (lower right) is supported by the Indonesian Navy vessel KRI Sutedi Senoputra,  (upper right) Source: X

MSN reports,

“Indonesia on Monday expelled a Chinese coast guard ship from its maritime zone after it allegedly interfered with a seismic survey operation.”

“An Indonesian coast guard cutter approached the Chinese ship, coming within around 8 miles of it and issuing a radio warning. However, the Chinese vessel insisted it was operating within Chinese waters.”

The Indonesian Navy sent reinforcements to support the cutter in the form of a patrol aircraft and a corvette.

“The Indonesian vessels shadowed the Chinese counterpart until it was ultimately expelled from Indonesia’s EEZ, per the statement.”

How long that took is not clear.

The same China Coast Guard ship (bearing an earlier hull number) and a Philippine supply boat engage in a standoff as the Philippine boat attempts to reach the Second Thomas Shoal, a South China Sea reef inside the Philippine EEZ, on March 29, 2014, Jay Directo—AFP

Correlation of Forces:

Correlation of forces is a term the Soviets used, and the Chinese would understand. It means if there were conflict what would be the likely outcome, and in any tense situation, the thought has to be at least in the back of the mind of the players, and will influence decision makers. 

China CGC 5402 is reportedly a Zhaolai class, formerly hull number 3401. The Zhaolai-class China Coast Guard cutters are reported to have a displacement of 4,896 tons and are 99 meters in length. It is a relatively big cutter, but closer to an Offshore Support Vessel than a warship. They go back to at least 2014, and were built before the China Coast Guard began building cutters armed with medium caliber guns. It is not clear if China CGC 5402 is now armed with heavy weapons. In the photo above, a foundation for what would probably be a 76mm gun is visible, but I have seen no photos of this class so armed.

The Indonesian cutter, KN Tanjung Datu, is the largest cutter in the Indonesian CG. It is reportedly 2400 tons, but I suspect the full load displacement is greater considering it is 110 meters (360′) in length with a beam of 15.5 m (51′), making it almost as large as the USCG’s new 4,500 ton Offshore Patrol Cutters. The USCG has exercised with her (photo below). She is armed with a 30mm Mk44 chain gun in a Aselsan SMASH remote weapon station, but the Indonesians did not assume that would be enough. They called in reinforcements in case things went South.

Indonesian Maritime Security Agency vessel KN Tanjung Datu, left, sails alongside U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton during joint exercises in the Singapore Strait in August 2019. IMAGE CREDIT: PO1 LEVI READ/USCG

The smallest vessel in the photo at the head of the post (KRI Sutedi Senoputra) was also, by far the most heavily armed. It is only 935 tons, full load, lighter than a WMEC210, and 43 years old, but it is faster than either of the cutters at 24 knots and armed with a twin 57mm, a twin 30mm, and two 20mm. It also has RBU-6000 ASW rocket launchers which may have some anti-surface capability. (see photo below)

The Indonesian Corvette, KRI Sutedi Senoputra, is a former East German Parchim class corvette like this one.

The incident happened within 200 nautical miles of Indonesian territory so attack aircraft would not be too far away.

The Indonesians have been acting aggressively against Chinese fishing vessels in their EEZ. They don’t seem to be unwilling to insist on their rights.

The Chinese probably don’t want to risk an armed conflict before they are ready to attack Taiwan with all the logistical preparation that would require. They seem to have been losing influence in Indonesia, and don’t want further alienate Indonesia and to push them closer to the US.

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

St. George Reef Lighthouse.

1892  After ten years of difficult and costly construction, the St. George Reef Lighthouse, built on a rock lying six miles off the northern coast of California, midway between Capes Mendocino and Bianco, was first lit. “St. George Reef Light marks a hazardous line of rock outcrops that extend northwest from Crescent City to form Saint George Reef. The light was abandoned in 1975 and replaced with a navigational buoy to the west of its current location.”

1920  The Superintendent of the 5th Lighthouse District inspected the aids to navigation “in New River Inlet and Bogue Sound, North Carolina by hydroplane in two hours, which would have required at least four days by other means of travel, owning to the inaccessibility of the aids inspected.”

1944  Allied landings on Leyte, Philippine Islands commenced.  Many Coast Guard units participated in the landings, which marked the fulfillment of General Douglas MacArthur’s promise to the Filipino people that he would return to liberate them from the Japanese.

1950  President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order “activating” the Magnuson Act, which had been passed by Congress earlier that month.  This act, authorizing the president to invoke the Espionage Act of 1917, tasked the Coast Guard once again with the port security mission.

Ferry George Prince

1976  The 120-foot ferry vessel George Prince, carrying 96 passengers and crew along with approximately 30 vehicles, collided with the Norwegian tank vessel Frosta in the Mississippi River about 20 miles above New Orleans.  George Prince was underway from Destrehan to Luling, Louisiana and was loaded to capacity.  Frosta struck  George Prince on the port side aft and the ferry quickly capsized and drifted upside down until it grounded on the right descending bank approximately one mile downstream from the point of collision.  “Ninety-six passengers and crew were aboard the ferry when it was struck, and seventy-eight perished. This accident is the deadliest ferry disaster in United States history.”

USCGC Cuyahoga (WIX-157) after being raised. USCG photo.

1978  CGC Cuyahoga sank after colliding with M/V Santa Cruz II near the mouth of the Potomac River.  Eleven Coast Guard crewmen were killed.

USCGC MUNRO

2021  CGC Munro (WMSL 755) and crew returned to their Alameda, California homeport after a 102-day, 22,000 nautical mile deployment to the Western Pacific. Munro departed Alameda in July and operated under the tactical control of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Munro’s crew executed numerous cooperative engagements, professional exchanges and capacity building efforts with naval allies and partners, including the Japan Coast Guard, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Royal Australian Navy, and Indonesia Maritime Security Agency.

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

USRC Eagle under full sail, in a painting by Patrick O’Brien. She was a topsail schooner, standard in revenue cutters of her period.

1814  The crew of USRC Eagle, which had been driven ashore near Negros Head, New York in an encounter with the British brig HMS Dispatch, dragged the cutter’s guns up a bluff in an effort to continue the battle.  The New York Evening Post gave an account of what happened next to the out-gunned cutter and its crew:

“During the engagement between the Cutter EAGLE and the enemy, the following took place which is worthy of notice.  Having expended all the wadding of the four-pounders on the hill, during the warmest of the firing, several of the crew volunteered and went on board the cutter to obtain more.  At this moment the masts were shot away, when the brave volunteers erected a flag upon her stern; this was soon shot away, but was immediately replaced by a heroic tar, amidst the cheers of his undaunted comrades, which was returned by a whole broadside from the enemy.  When the crew of the Cutter had expended all their large shot and fixed ammunition, they tore up the log book to make cartridges and returned the enemy’s small shot which lodged in the hull.  The Cutter was armed with only 6 guns, 4 four-pounders and 2 twos with plenty of muskets and about 50 men.  The enemy being gone and provisions scarce the volunteers from this city left Captain Lee and his crew and arrived here on Thursday evening the 13th instant, in a sloop from Long Island. . .We have since learned that Captain Lee succeeded in getting off the Cutter and was about to remove her to a place of safety when the enemy returned and took possession of her.  She was greatly injured, but it is expected that the enemy will be able to refit her to annoy us in the sound.”

Crews assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, the Coast Guard cutter Douglas Denman, Sitka Mountain Rescue and the Sitka Fire Department participate in the first day of a weeklong search and rescue exercise in Sitka, Alaska, May 9, 2023.

1977  The Coast Guard commissioned AIRSTA Sitka.

1989  An earthquake registering 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit Northern California, killing 67 people.  Coast Guard units assisted state and local agencies in rescue and relief operations.

Types of Naval Mines

2014  U.S. and Canadian military personnel and government civilian agencies participated in Exercise Frontier Sentinel 14 (FS 14) from October 17-24, 2014. This full-scale exercise is the final phase of a three-part scenario that focuses on maritime homeland security.  FS 14 was a combined U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Canadian Joint Task Force Atlantic, and U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Command exercise designed to test the coordinated response against a maritime threat to North American ports.  “This exercise tests the ability of U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Canadian forces, and civilian agencies to successfully respond to a complex maritime threat to the homeland,” said VADM William Lee, Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander.  “Exercises such as Frontier Sentinel allow us to strengthen partnerships with our Canadian and Navy counterparts in a realistic setting, which will enable us to improve our interoperability, so we are prepared to respond to any and all maritime threats to the homeland.”  Phases one and two of FS 14 occurred in August and September and focused on maritime threats in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Phase three of the exercise will focus on the coordinated detection, assessment and response to a mine threat in the Delaware Bay.  The exercise is limited to specific areas in Delaware Bay and should not significantly impact vessel traffic or bay operations.  Frontier Sentinel is an annual exercise series, initiated in 2006, established to improve the collaborative information exchange, planning and coordinated response between operational-level commands of the Tri-Party, which consists of U.S. Coast Guard, U. S. Fleet Forces Command, and Canadian Joint Task Force Atlantic, in response to security and defense threats in the maritime domain.

030321-N-4655M-029
The Arabian Gulf (Mar. 21, 2003) — Coalition Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team members inspect camouflaged mines hidden inside oil barrels on the deck of an Iraqi shipping barge. The shipping barge was intercepted and inspected by Coalition Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) and Vessel Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) teams from the patrol craft USS Chinook (PC 9) in the early hours of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 2nd Class Richard Moore. (RELEASED)

2015  The Coast Guard issued a certificate of inspection to the LNG-powered M/V Isla Bella.  The 736-foot, 3,100 TEU, U.S.-flagged vessel is the first container ship in the world capable of operating on liquefied natural gas.  Isla Bella was the first of two Marlin-class containerships built by NASSCO in San Diego for operation by TOTE Services in the Jones Act trade between Jacksonville, Florida and Puerto Rico.

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

1790  A contract was signed for the construction of the “first” of the 10 revenue cutters, Massachusetts, at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

1952  A Merchant Marine Detail was established at Yokohama, Japan to handle increased merchant marine problems occurring there as a result of the Korean Conflict.

Pan Am Flight 6 ditching in the Pacific Ocean, photographed from US Coast Guard Cutter Pontchartrain. Note that engine #4 appears to be feathered.

1956  CGC Pontchartrain, on Ocean Station November, rescued the passengers and crew of Pan American Clipper Flight 6 after the clipper ditched between Honolulu and San Francisco. All 31 aboard survived with only minor injuries.

PanAmFlight6-Ditches. US Coast Guard Photo

USCGC Storis, a Arctic Patrol Cutter.

1992  CGC Storis became the first foreign military ship to visit the Russian port of Petropavlosk since the Crimean War.  During the goodwill visit, Storis conducted joint operations with the Russian icebreaker Volga.

A Phalanx Close-In Weapons system (CIWS) during a live-fire practice by a guided-missile cruiser in November 2023. MC2 Malachi Lakey/US Navy

The War Zone has a good article on the Phalanx weapon system that arms US Coast Guard National Security Cutters (NSC) talking about ammunition costs.

The cost of ammunition for these systems actually looks trivial compared to the cost of missiles, but I am not really a fan of their use on cutters.

While it has been improved, the basic system goes back to 1973, plenty of time for adversaries to redesign their missiles to minimize its effectiveness.

The projectile is a high density, solid 12.7mm (.50″) sub-caliber discarding sabot round with no explosive content.

An enemy using anti-ship cruise missiles will endeavor to fire several missiles and have them arrive simultaneously. On a Navy DDG or FFG, they can begin countering cruise missiles as soon as they appear over the horizon or even earlier, as demonstrated recently in the Red Sea. Consequently, their Phalanx would only have to deal with rare leakers.

Cutters have, at best, a chance of bringing down a cruise missile with the 57mm. We don’t yet have a smart munition considered reliably effective against cruise missiles.

Phalanx’s effective range is reportedly 1,625 yards. A 600 knot anti-ship cruise missile covers that distance in less than five seconds. New generation supersonic missile cover that distance in far less time. The system does not move on to a second threat until the system’s radar recognizes that the first target is no longer a threat. It seems unlikely that Phalanx could engage more than one missile, much less more than two if they are timed to arrive simultaneously. There is also a good possibility that even if successfully engaged at very short range, missile debris might still impact the ship.

Replacing the Phalanx with SeaRAM, which has an operational range of 9 km (5.6 mi), would at least allow it to engage several targets simultaneously since it is a “fire and forget” system. The switch should be easy. The mount, footprint, and support requirements are the same with minimal changes required to the ship. Like Phalanx, SeaRAM is an autonomous system. It can also be used against surface targets.

Even with their superior long-range systems, the Navy began replacing one of the two Phalanx systems on some destroyers with SeaRAM in 2015. The Littoral Combat Ships which have a combat system similar to the National Security Cutters were equipped with SeaRAM or RAM from the beginning (2008).

There are no US Navy ships armed with only guns and CIWS.