“Three Improved Interior Features the New Offshore Patrol Cutters Have Over the Medium Endurance Cutters” — by Peter Ong

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Friend and contributing author Peter Ong provides us a bit of information about the interior of the Offshore Patrol Cutter. 

While the exterior details of the OPCs are generally known among readers, what about the OPC’s interior features, and how are three OPC’s interior features improved over the 270-foot and 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutters (MECs) that have served for 30 to 55 years, respectively?

The USCG Office of Public Affairs, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC, replied to my inquiry in late November 2023.

“Like the National Security Cutters, the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC) will have smaller berthing areas to accommodate mixed-gender crews, crew lounges, training rooms, and a gym. What makes the OPCs unique is that the cutter’s design is focused on improving flow (i.e., how the crew can go about their day-to-day routine as easily as possible). Here are a few examples:

  • Mixed-gender Locker Room between Combat Information Center (CIC) and the Boat Deck: The OPC will have an actual locker room, similar to shore-based boat stations, that allows personnel to change into and out of their law enforcement and boat gear attire. It will also be adjacent to the CIC and boat deck and co-located with a small arms locker/weapons issue station and a dedicated washer/dryer.

  • Food/Stores Flow: OPC reefers and dry stores are located on the same deck and immediately adjacent to the galley and mess deck. There is also an elevator large enough to hold a standard-sized pallet going from the flight deck straight to dry stores (and vice versa).

  • Berthing/Stateroom Flow: Berthing areas and staterooms are more spread out than the Medium Endurance Cutters (MECs) but are also located near key watch areas for quick emergency response. Additionally, watchstanders will not have to transit through berthing areas during their rounds, unlike on the 210’ MECs.”

With an endurance of 60 days, the OPCs have the interior design improvements to accommodate a better operational and crew flow environment compared to the WMECs.

Offshore Patrol Cutter port quarter

“U.S. Navy Seizes Attackers Who Held Israel-Linked Tanker” –Real Clear Defense

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In an undated photo released by Zodiac Maritime, the tanker Central Park is seen. Attackers seized the tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Aden, Yemen, on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, authorities said. While no group immediately claimed responsibility, it comes as at least two other maritime attacks in recent days have been linked to the Israel-Hamas war. (Zodiac Maritime via AP)

Real Clear Defense reports,

“Armed assailants seized and later let go of a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday before being apprehended by the United States Navy, officials said. Two ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen then landed near a U.S. warship aiding the tanker in the Gulf of Aden, raising the stakes amid a series of ship attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war.”

“Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event Evaluates Technology For Future Operations” –4th Fleet

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U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet demonstrated unmanned air and surface capabilities from expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) during the command’s Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event (HFCE) in Key West Oct. 4-13, 2023.

Below is a news release from 4th Fleet. Notably, 4th Fleet is approaching the problem of operationalizing unmanned systems in a different way from that of 5th Fleet.

“A key detail in SECNAV and CNO’s vision was that 4th Fleet would not stand up a separate task force like U.S. 5th Fleet did in Bahrain in 2021, but would develop the hybrid fleet from inside the staff already in place.”

 Oct. 20, 2023

Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event Evaluates Technology For Future Operations

By USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

KEY WEST, Florida   –  U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet demonstrated unmanned air and surface capabilities from expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) during the command’s Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event (HFCE) in Key West Oct. 4-13, 2023.

This is the most recent event in U.S. 4th Fleet’s campaign to operationalize cutting edge technologies. After successful rollout of the Campaign at UNITAS in July 2023 and the beginning of operation WINDWARD STACK in September, the Science and Technology event in Key West this past week focused on the evaluation of unmanned systems in advanced kill chains, contested littoral operations, survivability, and sustainment at sea.  It served as both a proving ground for emerging technologies and an opportunity for senior leaders to see for themselves the capabilities of systems that could support the hybrid fleet.

“One of the best ways to change our force is to rapidly operationalize new technologies, new systems, and new tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Naval Operations. “Whether you’re talking about artificial intelligence, cyber, unmanned platforms, directed energy, or hypersonic missiles, we are on the cusp of technological breakthroughs that are going to define future conflict.”

“This week’s technology evaluation event will push boundaries and risk failure in order to allow us to evaluate unmanned technology and then move to operationalize that technology to inform the hybrid fleet,” Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSOUTH) & U.S. 4th Fleet, said in advance of the event. “We have many events scheduled and in some of those events we will win, and in some of them we will learn. In both cases, the Hybrid Fleet will be informed, and the Navy will continue to push forward at the speed of technology.”

The campaign to inform the hybrid fleet calls for the combination of manned and unmanned systems to allow U.S. 4th Fleet to execute its larger missions of defending the southern approaches to the United States, countering malign activity in the region with our partners, and supporting the detection and monitoring of illicit trafficking in the region.

“Broad partnership across DoD and industry partners has allowed 4th Fleet to mature operational capabilities rapidly fostering innovation and providing informed recommendations to the parties involved in creating the Disruptive Capabilities Office,” said Dr. Chris Heagney, the Naval Air Systems Command Fleet/Force Advisor to USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet.

In April 2023 at the Navy League of the United States’ annual Sea Air Space Symposium, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Honorable Carlos Del Toro and then Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday announced that USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet would operationalize hybrid fleet operations. A key detail in SECNAV and CNO’s vision was that 4th Fleet would not stand up a separate task force like U.S. 5th Fleet did in Bahrain in 2021, but would develop the hybrid fleet from inside the staff already in place.

“This technology evaluation event is a continuation of the campaign we began in April,” said Cmdr. David Edwards, USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet’s technology and innovation director. “We evaluate these technologies in focused events like this, then operationalized the technology quickly to fulfill operational requirements in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (AOR). While we operate these systems to fulfil the 4th Fleet mission, the evaluation continues over months and years, not just hours and days. Those operational evaluations inform future acquisitions to ensure the Navy is ready to fight and win with these technologies.

HFCE was 4th Fleet’s largest technology event yet with 305 participants including VCNO and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea and 26 other U.S. government distinguished visitors, 10 foreign partners, 18 industry partners, and 47 Department of Defense Commands participating.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

“Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. Coast Guard Make $21 Million Drug Seizure in the Gulf of Oman” –NAVCENT

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GULF OF OMAN (Nov. 14, 2023) Illegal narcotics seized from a stateless vessel are stacked on the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) in the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 14. Emlen Tunnell was operating under Combined Task Force 150, one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. CTF 150 focuses on maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. (Photo by U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Below is a NAVCENT news release.

Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. Coast Guard Make $21 Million Drug Seizure in the Gulf of Oman

By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs | November 20, 2023

MANAMA, Bahrain —

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter crew seized about $21 million worth of illegal drugs from a stateless vessel while operating in the international waters of the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 14.

Coast Guardsmen from the Sentinel-class fast response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145), working under the command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized 2,000 kilograms of hashish and 384 kilograms of methamphetamine from the vessel during an interdiction operation.

“This new seizure shows once again the operational effectiveness of Combined Maritime Forces assets and nations,” said French navy Capt. Yannick Bossu, CTF 150 commander. “It illustrates that nations from all around the world are committed to regional maritime security in the Indian Ocean alongside their regional partners.”

This event marks the fifth time in recent months the French-led CTF 150 has interdicted illicit narcotics at sea. In those previous operations, CTF ships seized more than 4,522 kilograms of methamphetamine, heroin, and hashish from stateless vessels during interdiction operations, with a street value of more than $94 million.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. CTF 150 focuses on maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

Since 2021, Combined Maritime Forces has seized more than $1 billion in illegal drugs while patrolling waters across the Middle East.

The 38-nation naval partnership upholds the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

“C4F’s Hybrid Fleet Completes Target Detection Test” –4th Fleet

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A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel operates alongside U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) in the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 29, during Digital Horizon 2022. (Sgt. Brandon Murphy/US Army)

Below is a 4th Fleet News Release. This development will have obvious impact on Coast Guard drug and alien migrant interdiction efforts. This is a result of extending experimentation with unmanned systems to 4th Fleet in much the same way it was done in 5th fleet.

 Oct. 17, 2023

C4F’s Hybrid Fleet Completes Target Detection Test

By USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

KEY WEST, Florida   –  Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South) and Saildrone successfully completed an evaluation of the unmanned surface vessel Saildrone Voyager’s radar and electronic sensors against surface targets in the vicinity of Key West September 29, 2023.

Part of U.S. 4th Fleet’s campaign to inform the hybrid fleet, the evaluation looked at how many Saildrones the fleet would need to cover a given area of water and optimize the probability that the Saildrones would detect suspected drug runners at sea.

“This successful detection test is the completion of one small step in our campaign to inform the hybrid fleet,” said Capt. David Fowler, U.S. 4th Fleet’s Maritime Operations Center Director. “This is the type of testing and development that we can conduct even as we move toward continuous hybrid operations in the Caribbean.”

Right now continuous operations are underway with Operation Windward Stack. The U.S. 4th Fleet operation deploys long-dwell Saildrone unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to the Windward Passage in the Caribbean order to operationalize the combination of unmanned and manned systems in normal day-to-day operations.

In the coming months, other long-dwell USVs, interceptor USVs, long range UAVs, and VTOL UAVs will join the Saildrones in Operation Windward Stack. These systems will combine with traditional naval surface vessels to expand maritime domain awareness (MDA) and define combinations of unmanned and manned forces that work best for specific operations.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

“France’s DGA Orders 7 New OPV For The French Navy” –Naval News

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Artist impression of the Patrouilleur Hauturier OPV underway. Naval Group image.

Naval News reports,

The French defense procurement agency (DGA) ordered on 17 November 2023 seven new offshore patrol vessels (OPV) as part of the “Patrouilleurs Hauturiers” program for the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

These “second rank” ships will have missions similar to USCG cutters. We heard about the requirement for these ships and the vessels they would replace three years ago. At that time ten ships were expected. Since then, the requirement was reduced to six and now seven. France has been building several different classes of large patrol vessels (here, here, and here).

This new class of Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (offshore patrol vessels) are expected to displace 2400 tons full load, have a range of 6,000 miles, and have accommodations for up to 84 personnel (passengers and crew). They are expected to mount the new 40mm gun.

“Coast Guard Yard removes two 27-ton engines as part of medium endurance cutter service life extension program” –CG-9

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Coast Guard Cutter Spencer approaches the pier at Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore. Service life extension program work on the medium endurance cutter will last 15 months. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Below is a news release from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9). Included is a statement that USCGC Campbell will be the next WMEC to undergo SLEP. Check out the video linked below.

Workers at Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore remove a 27-ton main diesel engine from Coast Guard Cutter Spencer. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Charles Lortz, In-Service Vessel Sustainment Project Residence Office Baltimore.

On Nov. 8, personnel at Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore achieved a milestone in the 270-foot medium endurance cutter service life extension program (SLEP) by safely removing the two main diesel engines from Coast Guard Cutter Spencer. The engines each weigh 54,000 pounds – or 27 tons – and this is the first lift of this weight that has been conducted at Coast Guard Yard in more than a decade. This also is the first time Yard personnel have removed an engine from a 270-foot medium endurance cutter.

To gain the necessary access, workers removed the extendable aircraft hangar and cut through two decks. View a time-lapse video of the process here.

While Coast Guard Cutters Seneca and Harriet Lane served as prototypes for the electrical and structural work and installation of a new gun weapons system, Spencer is the first Coast Guard Famous-class medium endurance cutter to receive all major SLEP work items, including replacement of the main diesel engines. The SLEP work will sustain the cutters’ capabilities, enabling them to meet mission needs until they are replaced by offshore patrol cutters. This program is part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program, the Coast Guard’s strategic class-by-class evaluation of its vessels to determine what major maintenance and upgrades are necessary for each class of cutters to reach or extend their service lives.

Spencer has been in service since June 1986, and the original engines provided nearly 90,000 hours of operational service prior to their removal.

As the next phase in the SLEP, two new ALCO 251 engines will be installed. The engines removed from the Spencer will be remanufactured by Fairbanks Morse Defense and installed on the next medium endurance cutter to go through the SLEP, Coast Guard Cutter Campbell.

Coast Guard Yard is the service’s sole shipbuilding and major repair facility and part of the Coast Guard’s core industrial base and fleet support operations.

For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page

Second Indian Navy Anti-Piracy Patrol in the Atlantic –Sea Waves

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INS Sumedha (P58) en-route to Bangladesh 9 March 2021. Photo credit: Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Sea Waves reports.

INS Sumedha is on an Extended Range Operational Deployment and is currently operating in the Atlantic Ocean along the West Coast of Africa. During this period, INS Sumedha operated in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) undertaking a 31 days anti-piracy patrol. This is the second such patrol being undertaken by the Indian Navy in this crucial maritime region. The maiden GoG Anti piracy patrol was undertaken by INS Tarkash in Sep – Oct 22.

This is a new effort by the Indian Navy. US Coast Guard WMECs have been doing similar capacity building in the same area. We might be able to coordinate our efforts.

“Singapore orders four offshore patrol vessels from Fassmer” –Naval Today

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Photo credit: German Federal Police

Naval Today reports,

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has signed a contract with German company Fassmer to acquire four new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs)…The ships are based on an OPV design operated by the German Bundespolizei (Federal Police). Furthermore, they are designed with high maneuverability to operate in Singapore’s congested waters.

In a comment, a reader, Katoult, who I see provided the photo above, pointed me to an even better article on the topic at Naval News, thanks.

I have a lot of respect for Singapore’s decision makers. They are very tech savvy and, like the US, cannot depend on cheap labor in large numbers. I am a bit surprised they did not use a version of their Littoral Missions Vessel design for this mission. This is the fourth nation to choose a Fassmer OPV design. It does appear to be a bit more seaworthy and incorporates a hangar that the Littoral Missions Vessel does not include. I think we will see unmanned systems operating from these ships.