Received a recommendation to pass this along. Some good information here. Hopefully you know all this already, but a good review. (I remember spending a lot of time making sure hydrostatic releases would work.) (Thanks, Ben)
Republic of Korea Coast Guard vessel KCG Taepyongyang (KCG-3016), U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL-751) and Japan Coast Guard vessel JCGC Wakasa (PL-93) patrol in formation during a trilateral exercise in the East Sea, June 6, 2024. U.S. Coast Guard missions in the Indo-Pacific focus on issues directly supporting and advancing our regional partners’ efforts to protect fish stocks, ensure safety of life at sea, support environmental response, and provide disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elijah Murphy)
Below is a release from Coast Guard News. Once again, we have a National Security Cutter in the far Western Pacific (here, here, here, and here). A couple of things worth noting.
The Cutter is operating under a 7th Fleet Destroyer Squadron (DESRON 15) rather than US Coast Guard Operational Control.
While S. Korea has an EEZ 2.65% that of the US, the South Korean Coast Guard with about a quarter the number of personnel as the US Coast Guard, operates about the same number of large patrol cutters (>1,000 tons, 36 vs 34) as its US counterpart.
Japan has an EEZ about 39.5% that of the US. The Japan Coast Guard with about a third the personnel of the USCG, operates about twice as many large patrol cutters (70+).
Both the S. Korean and Japan Coast Guards have far fewer aircraft than the USCG.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche and Japan Coast Guard vessel JCGC Wakasa (PL-93) test their water cannons during a trilateral search and rescue exercise in the East Sea, June 6, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elijah Murphy)
June 9, 2024
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MAIZURU, Japan – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) departed Maizuru, Japan, June 6, following several engagements with the Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Coast Guard and multiple Japanese dignitaries. Once underway, the Waesche, the Japan Coast Guard vessel Wakasa (PL 93), and the Republic of Korea Coast Guard patrol vessel Taepyongyang (KCG 3016) conducted a joint search and rescue exercise at sea.
Waesche arrived on June 3 and is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to pull into Maizuru.
While moored in Maizuru, the Waesche crew attended a reception to commemorate the first joint search and rescue exercise between the three coast guards. Capt. Tyson Scofield, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche commanding officer, met with Rear Adm. Hisada Takahiro, Japan Coast Guard 8th Regional commander and Maizuru Mayor Akitsu Kamota to discuss the continued cooperation between the three nations, specifically recognizing the importance search and rescue response efforts.
“This joint search and rescue exercise with the Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard highlights the strong bond between our maritime nations,” said Tyson. “Increasing interoperability to assist mariners at sea, highlights the strength of our maritime cooperation. Together, we continue to build strong relationships with like-minded nations throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
During the search and rescue exercise, officers from the three coast guards joined as observers on each nation’s ship to share best practices and learn from each other. This provided each coast guard an opportunity to work together with each other’s crews during the exercise.
Waesche is proud to support the United States’ continued efforts to facilitate force-multiplying partnerships in the region to bolster interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.
Waesche is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. DESRON 15 regularly assumes tactical control of surface units operating in the area.
Commissioned in 2010, Waesche is the second legend-class national security cutter and is homeported in Alameda, California. National security cutters are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, and can hold a crew of up to 170. The advanced technologies of the national security cutter class ships are designed to support global operations and missions.
US Capital West Side, by Martin Falbisoner
Ran across a couple of documents you might be interested in.
The Authorization is just a bill right now and even if enacted, it does not really provide any funds. I have a hard time understanding why Congress works this way, both and authorization and a budget. I think the authorization is supposed to come first as a sort of way to work toward consensus, establishing an upper limit on the budget, but for FY2024, the budget has already passed (long after the FY began) but the Authorization has only cleared the House and is in the Senate now. I don’t think it will take long in the Senate, but the FY is already two thirds over.
Even so, the Authorization has some interesting stuff regarding the out years. Historically the enacted budget has been larger than the Administrations budget request so this may happen. Just remember, while this suggests intention, it can not be taken for granted.
SEC. 103. AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS FOR ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT.(a) Fiscal Year 2025.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of title 14, United States Code, for fiscal year 2025—
(1) $138,500,000 is authorized for the acquisition or procurement of 1 missionized HC–130J Super Hercules aircraft;
(2) $36,000,000 is authorized for the service life extension program and any necessary upgrades of the 47-foot Motor Life Boat; and
(3) $216,000,000 is authorized for the acquisition of 2 Fast Response Cutters.
(b) Fiscal Year 2026.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 4902(2)(A) of title 14, United States Code, for fiscal year 2026—
(1) $1,200,000,000 is authorized for the acquisition of a Polar Security Cutter;
(2) $1,100,000,000 is authorized for the acquisition of 2 Offshore Patrol Cutters;
(3) $138,500,000 is authorized for the acquisition or procurement of 1 missionized HC–130J Super Hercules aircraft; and
(4) $153,500,000 is authorized to outfit and assemble 5 MH–60T Jayhawk aircrafts.
SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.(a) Fiscal Year 2025.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 4902(1)(A) of title 14, United States Code, for fiscal year 2025—
(1) $11,978,000 is authorized to fund additional recruiting personnel and offices for the Coast Guard Recruiting Command;
(2) $9,000,000 is authorized to enhance Coast Guard recruiting capabilities; and
(3) $25,000,000 is authorized for the implementation of each directed action outlined in enclosure 1 of the memorandum of the Commandant titled “Commandant’s Directed Actions-Accountability and Transparency”, dated November 27, 2023.
(b) Fiscal Year 2026.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 4902(1)(A) of title 14, United States Code, $35,000,000 is authorized for the implementation of each directed action outlined in enclosure 1 of the memorandum of the Commandant titled “Commandant’s Directed Actions-Accountability and Transparency”, dated November 27, 2023.
If you are curious as I was about what “Commandant’s Directed Actions-Accountability and Transparency”, dated November 27, 2023 referred to, you can read it here.
“Waters Deep” by Eileen Mahoney
“In Ocean waves no poppies blow
No crosses stand in ordered row
Their young hearts sleep beneath the wave
The spirited, the good, and the brave,
But stars a …constant vigil keep,
For them who lie beneath the deep,
‘Tis true you cannot kneel in prayer,
On a certain spot and think he’s there
But you can to the ocean go
See whitecaps marching row on row;
Know one for him will always ride,
In and out with every tide,
And when your span of life is passed
He’ll meet you at the ‘Captain’s Mast’
And they who mourn on distant shore,
For sailors who will come home no more,
Can dry their tears and pray for these
Who rest beneath the heaving seas,
For stars that shine and winds that blow
And whitecaps marching row on row
And they can never lonely be,
For when they lived They choose the sea.”
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) moors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 20, 2024. The James arrived in Rio de Janeiro for a scheduled port visit during Operation Southern Cross 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Logan Kaczmarek)
Below is a news release. This may seem a bit unusual, but it isn’t the first time a National Security Cutter has sailed the South Atlantic coast of Latin America. USCGC STONE was in Rio in March 2023. STONE also made a patrol of South Atlantic waters of Latin America in 2021 before she was even commissioned.
Cutters have also frequently participated in UNITAS exercises.
RIO DE JANEIRO — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) arrived in the port of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a scheduled visit, Monday.
This visit marks James’ third stop as the cutter continues its multi-mission deployment in the South Atlantic Ocean, exhibiting the U.S. Coast Guard’s partnership with Brazil and strengthening the interoperability of the two nations’ maritime forces to counter illicit maritime activity and promote maritime sovereignty throughout the region.
“Working with the Brazilian navy has been a successful demonstration of how our countries can work together,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Donald Terkanian, James’ commanding officer. “James has had the opportunity to enhance relations between the U.S. and Brazil while also addressing the threats posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, port security, and in facilitating safe and lawful maritime commerce and travel.”
James embarked Brazilian navy Lt. Cmdr. Fernando Schild in April of 2024. Brazil and the United States’ naval services both use unmanned aerial systems to provide increased maritime domain awareness across a variety of mission sets. The embarked Brazilian officer is part of Brazil’s first ship-based unmanned aerial systems squadron, and the embarkation of this officer aboard James highlights the robust partnership between the two nations and their shared commitment to upholding the rules-based international order at sea.
In recent years, the United States and Brazil have partnered to share and exchange maritime tactics, techniques, and procedures. Since 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard has provided 34 mobile training team deployments and three resident training courses to Brazil in the areas of crisis management, mobile command systems, port security, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and disaster response. Both countries are dedicated to the responsible management of marine resources, demonstrating their shared commitment through the continued integration of their naval forces.
James, staffed by 150 men and women and is one of the largest and most technologically advanced ships in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The crew is dedicated to missions including combatting drug trafficking and monitoring for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities in the Atlantic. Their work not only supports U.S. interests but also contributes to regional stability and security.
James is the fifth Legend-class national security cutter in the Coast Guard fleet and is currently homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. The national security cutters can execute the most challenging national security missions, including support to U.S. combatant commanders.
James is under the command of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area oversees all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf. In addition to surge operations, they also allocate ships to work with partner commands and deploy to the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to combat transnational organized crime and illicit maritime activity.
For information on how to join the U.S. Coast Guard, visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty and reserve, officer and enlisted opportunities. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found here.
PACIFIC OCEAN (July 30, 2022) U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Humberto Alba, a naval aircrewman tactical-helicopter, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37, deployed on U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class cutter USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757), looks down at a USCGC crewmember after taking off during flight operations during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Bacon)
Below is a Third Fleet news release regarding the upcoming RIMPAC exercise. I am hoping we will see at least one story from each participating Coast Guard unit. There are likely to be several.
A National Security Cutter is almost certain to participate. I am particularly interested to see what the NSC will do. As I noted earlier, during the last two RIMPACs National Security Cutters did some interesting stuff. In 2020 Munro hosted a U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 MH-60S Helicopter. In 2022 Midget commanded a task force and hosted Navy MH-60R ASW helicopter.
Would be nice if they got to shoot their 57mm as part of the SINKEX. It’s not like they are going to prematurely sink the target. Maybe a dozen ALAMO rounds at 10,000 yards.
I would hope that, sometime in the future, we would conduct a Coast Guard SINKEX using one of our decommissioned ships. Would be good to get a practical demonstration of the effectiveness of our 57mm Mk110s.
By Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs
RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971. As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC combines force capabilities in a dynamic maritime environment to demonstrate enduring interoperability across the full spectrum of military operations.
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” To promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, Exercise RIMPAC is the premier joint and combined maritime exercise, utilizing and preserving a world class maritime training environment. With inclusivity at its core, RIMPAC fosters multi-national cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated, prepared, coalition partners.
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as the Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. For the first time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will serve as vice commander. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of Canada, who will command the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise Desjardins of Australia, who will command the air component.
During RIMPAC, integrated and prepared partners train and operate together in order to strengthen our collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2024 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.
Details of RIMPAC activities and imagery are available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac and https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/RIMPAC2024. Media coverage of RIMPAC 2024 is authorized and encouraged, but in all cases will be coordinated through the Combined Joint Information Bureau (CJIB). Media interested in covering the exercise should fill out the following form:
Any additional questions/queries should be sent to rimpac.media@gmail.com, or the C3F PA team (619-767-4383). Contact information for the RIMPAC CJIB will be made available prior to the beginning of the exercise.
Pulled this off the U. S. Coast Guard Pacific Southwest Facebook page after seeing a post by Bill James.
“The Costa Rican Coast Guard hosted crews from the @USCGC Forrest Rednour- WPC 1129 and Blackfin – WPB 87317 during a subject matter exchange in Golfito, Costa Rica May 15 and 16. The Coast Guard’s IUUF Center of Excellence facilitated a valuable exchange of best practices and raised the awareness of participating agencies concerning Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. The exchange was attended by Costa Rican Coast Guard (SNG), Fisheries and Aquaculture Institute (INCOPESCA), the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) on Regional Fisheries Management Organizations and the Inter-American Tropical Tunas Commission. These efforts greatly amplify diplomatic progress towards broader bilateral ties with Costa Rica to counter the challenges of IUUF and other forms of illicit maritime activity.”
Surprised they sent an 87 footer to Costa Rica. Could be because we will be transferring one or more to the Costa Rican Coast Guard? Costa Rica already has two former USCG Island class cutters.
BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES, 02.13.2018, Costa Rican Coast Guard 1st Agent Davis Herrera stands watch over the newly acquired 110-foot patrol boat given to the Costa Rican Coast Guard by the U.S. Coast Guard at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, Feb. 13, 2018. Two of the former U.S. Coast Guard cutters are now Costa Rican Coast Guard Libertador class patrol boats. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Hodges)
The USCG has had a long-term relationship with Costa Rica that goes back more than 50 years with a liaison officer having been stationed there. The relationship may go back as far as the founding of the Costa Rican Coast Guard in 1949.
While historically US Navy ships have not been welcomed in Costa Rica, Coast Guard cutters have been welcomed.
Blackfin is homeported in Santa Barbara and Forrest Readnour in San Pedro, CA.
This is from 1989, but good background. Looks like a lot has changed.
“The Coast Guard currently operates 55 FRCs throughout the United States and in support of U.S. Central Command. U.S. Coast Guard graphic.”
The graphic above was part of the Acquisition Directorate’s announcement of the exercise of a contract option for two more FRCs, numbers 66 and 67.
It specifically lays down the locations of 49 FRCs as currently assigned to Coast Guard Districts. This has prompted me to speculate on where the remaining cutters will be going.
It is a good graphic, but some might not recognize Puerto Rico (7) and Guam (3) which have been lumped together below Texas. There is also an issue with the number of ships assigned to Mississippi, in that one of the two (Benjamin B. Dailey WPC-1123) is no longer active having suffered a catastrophic fire. It has been placed in storage and may never be repaired.
As noted in the graphic, six are also assigned to PATFORSWA, homeported in Bahrain and attached to 5th Fleet.
Of the remaining 12 cutters, we know two (1156 and 1157) will go to D13 at Astoria, and two (1158 and 1159) will go to D17 at Kodiak. Another is expected to go to Seward, AK. I happen to run across information that USCGC MARVIN PERRETT (WPC-1164) will be going to Base Long Beach. That leaves us with six FRCs where I was unable to identify future homeports.
If you look at how many are assigned to each district, patterns seem to emerge. It seems they are being based in groups of three, allowing at least one of the three to be underway almost all the time. Also, six is the most common number assigned to a district, just as six are assigned to PATFORSWA. This would make some sense in that it would allow the district to generally keep two units underway at all times.
There are no Fast Response Cutters assigned to District 9 (Great Lakes), but they do have six Bay class 140-foot icebreaking tugs which can function as patrol vessels.
The future laydown as currently identified is as follows:
That is a total of 60 FRCs in nine groupings of which four have or are projected to have 6 FRCs. That leaves six additional FRCs to be distributed plus any future additional FRCs. My guesses would be.
That would require only two more FRCs to be funded in the future.
If you look at the projections, including a total of nine in D14, that suggests 38 in LANTAREA and only 24 in PACAREA, despite the fact that about 84% of the US EEZ is in PACAREA.
There is probably ample justification for an additional three in D14, to bring them up to a total of 12. D14 includes about 43% of the entire US EEZ and also includes the three Compact of Free Association nations with a combined EEZ about half that of the entire US EEZ. D14 vessels are also likely to spend much more time in transit to patrol areas and maintenance facilities so they are likely to need at least one spare cutter to add to the rotation.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Stratton (WMSL 752) and Bailey Barco (WPC 1122) rendezvous in Beaver Inlet near Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska, Feb. 28, 2024. Both cutters conducted joint cutter boat training and formation steaming while on patrol in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska for fisheries enforcement, safety of life at sea, and sovereignty projection. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)
Below is a Bollinger Shipyards news release. This is significant because it goes beyond the 65 FRCs that might have been justified by any interpretation of the DEEPWATER based “Program of Record,” which included 58 FRC, to which were added six additional FRCs for PATFORSWA. One FRC was essentially destroyed by a fire in a dockyard. I can only assume the additional two will either augment the three currently in Guam or will go into a new homeport somewhere in the Western Pacific.
As it stands the Coast Guard has ten NSCs, 24 WMECs, and 56 FRCs for a total of 90 vessels. While the number of vessels over 1000 tons full load is down substantially, the total is much the same as the fleet the program of record was intended to replace. Essentially FRCs have replaced not only 49 smaller WPB110s but also some WMECs.
Total displacement for the fleet is up from the fleet being replaced. I believe manning requirements are also up and both total displacement and manning requirements will rise considerably as OPCs are commissioned and replace WMECs.
LOCKPORT, La., — (May 13, 2024) – The U.S. Coast Guard has exercised a contract option to award Bollinger Shipyards (“Bollinger”) two additional Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC). This announcement brings the total number of FRCs awarded to Bollinger up to 67 vessels since the program’s inception. To date, the U.S. Coast Guard has commissioned 55 FRCs into operational service.
“We’re incredibly proud of our long history supporting the U.S. Coast Guard that now stretches four decades,” said Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon. “Our unique experience building for the Coast Guard is unparalleled and has shown time and time again that we can successfully deliver the highest quality and most capable vessels. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Coast Guard.”
Both FRCs will be built at Bollinger’s Lockport, La. facility that supports over 650 direct jobs in Lafourche Parish out of the nearly 4,000 shipbuilders supporting Bollinger’s 13 facilities across Louisiana and Mississippi.
Bordelon continued, “This program isn’t just an economic benefit for our region, but a national security priority that continues to enjoy the support of a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in the United States Congress. That being said, these additional vessels allow for the continued prosperity and economic wellbeing for over 650 families in South Louisiana. The hardworking men and women of Bollinger Shipyards take tremendous pride in every single vessel we build and deliver for the U.S. government knowing we’re helping to keep our homeland safe.”
The FRC program has had a total economic impact of over $2 billion since its inception in material spending and directly supports more than 650 jobs in Southeast Louisiana. The program has indirectly created 1,690 new jobs from operations and capital investment and has an annual economic impact on GDP of $202 million, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) on the economic importance of the U.S. Shipbuilding and Repair Industry. Bollinger sources over 271,000 different items for the FRC consisting of 282 million components and parts from 965 suppliers in 37 states.
The FRC is one of many U.S. Government shipbuilding programs that Bollinger is proud to support. In addition to the construction of the FRC, Bollinger is contracted to build the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS), the Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL), the newest oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS 67) and the Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vessels (MCM USV) for the U.S. Navy. Bollinger is also building three Regional Class Research Vessels (RCRV) for the National Science Foundation through Oregon State University. Bollinger also supports the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine program by building various platforms for General Dynamics-Electric Boat.
ABOUT THE FAST RESPONSE CUTTER PLATFORM
The FRC is an operational “game changer,” according to senior Coast Guard officials. FRCs are consistently being deployed in support of the full range of missions within the United States Coast Guard and other branches of our armed services. This is due to its exceptional performance, expanded operational reach and capabilities, and ability to transform and adapt to the mission. FRCs have conducted operations as far as the Marshall Islands—a 4,400 nautical mile trip from their homeport. Measuring in at 154-feet, FRCs have a flank speed of 28 knots, state of the art C4ISR suite (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), and stern launch and recovery ramp for a 26-foot, over-the-horizon interceptor cutter boat.
ABOUT BOLLINGER SHIPYARDS
Bollinger Shipyards (www.bollingershipyards.com) has a 78-year as a leading designer and builder of high-performance military patrol boats and salvage vessels, research vessels, ocean-going double hull barges, offshore oil field support vessels, tugboats, rigs, lift boats, inland waterways push boats, barges, and other steel and aluminum products from its new construction shipyards as part of the U. S. industrial base. Bollinger has 13 facilities, all strategically located throughout Louisiana and Mississippi with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Bollinger is the largest vessel repair company in the Gulf of Mexico region.
The Navy League’s online magazine, Seapower, reports the start of USCGC Eagle’s summer training program and their planned port calls.
“Eagle’s 2024 full summer schedule includes port visits to:
Eagle is scheduled to return to New London on Aug. 16.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 