How Hard Is It to Sink a Ship With Gunfire?

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I have made a point of trying to illustrate how hard it is to sink a ship, even a small ship, with gunfire. My most popular post, “What Does It Take to Sink a Ship?,” takes a statistical look at the USN WWII combat losses, and I have published other posts that have looked at this question.

This was to show how inadequate the armament of Coast Guard cutters is, if they are ever called upon to forcibly stop a mediium or large vessel with a determined crew.

What we have, in the video above, is an illustration of the damage that was done to a very tough, but relatively small US Navy destroyer, with a determined crew, that fought agressively against Japanese destroyers, cruisers, and battleships including the Yamato with its 18″ guns which hit the little ship three times.

In this battle, despite very long odds, actually more than half of the small ships survived. Of the six escort carriers (CVEs), three destroyers (DDs), and four destroyer escorts (DEs), five CVEs, one DD, and three DEs survived the assault by four battleships, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and eleven destroyers.

For comparison, Fletcher class destroyers like USS Johnston typically had a full load displacement of 2,924 tons, less than two thirds the size of the NSCs and OPCs or about 50% larger than a 270.

 

Chinese F/V Attempts to Ram USCGC James –AP

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In this photo made available by the U.S. Coast Guard, guardsmen from the cutter James, seen at background right, conduct a boarding of a fishing vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, on Aug. 4, 2022. During the 10-day patrol for illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing, three vessels steamed away. Another turned aggressively 90 degrees toward the James, forcing the American vessel to maneuver to avoid being rammed. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Hunter Schnabel/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

The Associated Press is reporting,

“…a heavily-armed U.S. Coast Guard cutter sailed up to a fleet of a few hundred Chinese squid-fishing boats not far from Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. Its mission: inspect the vessels for any signs of illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing…But in this case, the Chinese captains of several fishing boats did something unexpected. Three vessels sped away, one turning aggressively 90 degrees toward the Coast Guard cutter James, forcing the American vessel to take evasive action to avoid being rammed.”

Of course there is much more to the story.

“HMS Medway, U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Seize Cocaine in Caribbean” –Seapower

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HMS MEDWAY and her embarked US Coastguard Law Enforcement team interdicted a vessel carrying over 400kg of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, 29 Sep 22. Initially spotted by a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft, the ship chased down the boat before the Coastguard boarding team discovered the drugs and detained three individuals. The operation, which lasted overnight, then concluded with the vessel being sunk by Medway’s weapons systems.

A hat tip to our Royal Navy friends. The Navy League’s on line magazine, Seapower, reports,

A Royal Navy ship and U.S. Coast Guard boarding team seized more than 400 kilograms of cocaine worth around £24m on Britain’s streets from a boat in the Caribbean, the U.K. Ministry Of Defence said in an Oct. 28 release.

HMS Medway is a River Class Batch II Offshore Patrol Vessel. The Coast Guard would probably call her a medium endurance cutter. They have a relatively small crew and are faster than Coast Guard WMECs or the Offshore Patrol Cutters currently building.

There is no indication they operated with an embarked helicopter. Operating in the Caribbean they would have had adequate fixed wing support. They have a large helicopter landing area but no hangar. The helicopter in the illustration is a very large one, a Merlin, with a max take off weight of over 32,000 pounds.

The gun on these ships is the same gun and mount as the new Mk38 Mod4.

Former USCGC Douglas Munro Makes Its Way to Sri Lanka

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Seawaves reports on the delivery voyage of the former USCGC Douglas Munro on its way to Sri Lanka. As in previous cases you can see that the air-search radar, Phalanx CIWS, and 25mm guns have been removed while the 76mm Mk75 gun and Mk92 fire control system remain.

As reported by Wikipedia, this is the 11th  of the 12 ships of the class to be handed over to a foreign navy or coast guard. In most cases, they are the largest units in their new parent organization. Using their former names, their distribution is as follows:

Philippine Navy:

  • Hamilton
  • Dallas
  • Boutwell

Nigerian Navy:

  • Chase
  • Gallatin

Sri Lankan Navy:

  • Sherman
  • Douglas Munro

Vietnam Coast Guard:

  • Morgenthau
  • John Midgett

Bangladesh Navy:

  • Rush
  • Jarvis

The only one of the class that remains is Mellon which is expected to go to Bahrain.

Sri Lanka has also been operating the former 210 foot, Medium Endurance Cutter USCGC Courageous since 2005.

“Ukraine Unleashes Mass Kamikaze Drone Boat Attack On Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Headquarters” –The Drive

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Russian frigate Admiral Makarov

The Drive reports, it appears Ukraine made a mass attack of unmanned air and surface craft on Russia’s primary naval base in the Black Sea, Sevastopol (Ukraine is not claiming responsibility). There seems to be confirmation from Russia that minor damage was done to a minesweeper, but other reports indicate a relatively new frigate, the Admiral Markarov, serving as flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, may also have been damaged. Video in the report shows a very close approach to a frigate of the same class, apparently by an unmanned surface craft before the video ends abruptly.

Russia is also claiming that the UK was involved in the planning of the attack.

While unlikely, how to defend against such  attacks probably should be in the Coast Guard’s skill set. Force protection and harbor defense are potential missions.

I MEF, USCG Pacific Area, U.S 3rd Fleet Sign Tri-Service Memorandum of Understanding

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Below is a Pacific Area news release. Apparently it adds the Coast Guard to an existing memorandum of understanding between 3rd Fleet and I MEF (“I” pronounced “One”) .

By expanding the memorandum of understanding to include U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area of Command further solidifies the full maritime approach at the operational and tactical levels.

It may be noteworthy that the agreement is with 3rd Fleet, not Pacific Fleet. Both 3rd Fleet and 1 MEF have homeland defense and Disaster Response/Humanitarian Assistance missions for the West Coast and Alaska. Both have their headquarters in Southern California.

It may signal greater Navy/Marine interest in Alaska and the Arctic

Hopefully this agreement will work in both directions. The Coast Guard will be more ready to execute wartime missions, while the Navy and Marines will be more ready to help in cases of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or a massive SAR case.

News Release Oct. 28, 2022
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area
Pacific Area online newsroom

I MEF, USCG Pacific Area, U.S 3rd Fleet Sign Tri-Service Memorandum of Understanding

Vice Admiral Tiongson signs MOU

Editor’s Note: Click on image above to download high resolution version. 

SAN DIEGO – Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, and Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet signed a tri-service maritime strategy memorandum of understanding, Wednesday, at U.S. 3rd Fleet Headquarters. 

The memorandum formalizes the implementation of strategic guidance by developing a predictable framework for integrated exercise design, planning, experimentation and execution, and ensure interoperability between the services and readiness at all levels and across all domains.

“This memorandum solidifies our commitment to training, learning, and adapting as a collective team to meet current and future challenges,” said Lt. Gen. George W. Smith Jr., commanding general, I MEF. “As the largest Marine Air-Ground Task Force assigned to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, I Marine Expeditionary Force is inextricability linked to the maritime domain. Our work with U.S. 3rd Fleet and U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Command is critical to generating, employing, and modernizing a true tri-maritime force capable of responding across the spectrum of contingencies at home and abroad.”

Leveraging the complementary capabilities of the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy has the ability to generate integrated all-domain maritime power. By expanding the memorandum of understanding to include U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area of Command further solidifies the full maritime approach at the operational and tactical levels.

“Bringing to bear unique capabilities and broad authorities as both a military, maritime service and a federal law enforcement and regulatory agency, the Coast Guard strives to remain a trusted partner in bolstering safety and security in a free and open, connected, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific,” said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.  “We look forward to joining together with U.S. 3rd Fleet and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force as we campaign to enhance readiness and exercise shared operational capabilities in response to common threats and challenges.”

In addition to integrating live, virtual and constructive training capabilities inside of a predictable framework, the memorandum also outlines information-sharing practices and allows for the development of options for staffs to engage in cross-training opportunities and other coordination forums between the services.

“Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard; we each bring unique capabilities to the fight and we have a longstanding history of working together,” said Vice Adm. Michael E. Boyle, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. “Formalizing the integration of our services increases our ability to overcome any conflict, issue, or adversary across the maritime domain; whether its command and control of maritime forces, maritime homeland defense, or defense support to civil authorities.  We are strongest as a Tri-service team.”

An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations—from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

Pacific Area Command is the Coast Guard’s regional command element and force provider for maritime safety, security and stewardship throughout the Pacific. The command’s area of responsibility encompasses six continents, 71 countries and more than 74 million square miles of ocean.

“USS Jackson Deployment Used Manned/Unmanned Teaming with Fire Scout, Seahawk” –Seapower

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SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 19, 2022) An MH-60S Sea Hawk and MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, conduct concurrent flight operations as a manned-unmanned team (MUM-T) while embarked on the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6). Jackson, part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, is on a rotational deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Alexandra Green)

The Navy League’s on-line magazine, Seapower, reports,

The USS Jackson, based in San Diego, deployed on July 11, 2021, to the Western Pacific for 15 months in support of the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). Both the ship’s Blue and Gold crews each participated in two on-hull patrols during the deployment, which took the LCS to the South China Sea and Oceania. The Jackson, with a Coast Guard law-enforcement detachment embarked, operated with the armed forces of Brunei, France, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan, and made port calls to several island nations including Palau, Tahiti and Fiji. The ship returned to its homeport on Oct. 15, 2022.

We did employ the manned/unmanned teaming tactic and concept with our aviation detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 Detachment 6. We executed that approximately one dozen times and we saw over 100 hours of MQ-8C operations while deployed to the 7th Fleet area. While conducting those manned/unmanned teaming operations what we found was that having an unmanned aircraft that had many capable sensor payloads was really a force multiplier that we could use to develop our recognized air and maritime picture beyond the horizon while using the MH-60S to conduct positive identification of things that we detected with the MQ-8C.

Looks like USS Jackson was doing some useful work, but–

This was a 15 month deployment. 461 days by my calculations so, “over 100 hours of MQ-8C operations while deployed to the 7th Fleet area” does not really sound that impressive, not compared with the extended endurance we are told UAS can do (15 hours max for the MQ-8C). Does it mean they only launched 12 time in 15 months?
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I think the Coast Guard can get about 100 hours flight out of a single H-65 in a typical 60 day patrol. We used to do two two hour flights a day with some regularity. I have not seen how much search time we are getting out of the Scan Eagles on the National Security Cutters, but it should be a lot more than that.
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There was no indication that the Fire Scout was used for anything other than surface search,
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While conducting those manned/unmanned teaming operations what we found was that having an unmanned aircraft that had many capable sensor payloads was really a force multiplier that we could use to develop our recognized air and maritime picture beyond the horizon while using the MH-60S to conduct positive identification of things that we detected with the MQ-8C.
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Seapower also recently reported, “Navy to Consolidate Fire Scout UAVs on West Coast,” which indicated that of the three detachments currently operating MQ-8s, the LANTFLT detachment will be de-activated, while the one of two PACFLT Fire Scout detachments that still operates the “B” model will upgrade to the “C” model. The report went on to report, “Currently, there are no plans to expand Fire Scout operations to other helicopter sea combat (HSC) squadrons.”
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That indicates to me, that the Navy is not all that enthusiastic about Fire Scout. Though they are certainly planning to continue to pursue unmanned systems. Presumably it has been a “learning experience,” but it does not look like Fire Scout, in its present form, will be a growing program.

 

Just Established–Base Astoria, Warrenton, OR

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Coast Guard Air Station Astoria

District 13 is getting a new base in Warrenton, Oregon, on the NorthWest corner of Oregon. Warrenton is also the location of CG Air Station Astoria.  A couple of WMECs are (or at least have been) based there. It has been reported at least two Webber class WPCs will be based there in 2024. I suspect, ultimatedly, it will be at least three. Presumably the 210s will leave when the first two OPCs are stationed in Long Beach.

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astori

Coast Guard establishes new unit in Warrenton, OR

Editors’ Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

ASTORIA, Ore. – The Coast Guard held an establishment ceremony Wednesday in Warrenton to formally establish Coast Guard Base Astoria.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Todd Wimmer assumed command of the new unit.

Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, the Director of Operational Logistics, presided over the ceremony.

Wimmer previously served as Chief of Facilities at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, California, from 2019-2022.

Base Astoria is located in Warrenton and will provide operational logistics support for Coast Guard units across the Thirteenth Coast Guard District’s Oregon and southern Washington regions. 

“Coast Guard halts illegal use of “paper captains” in WA-based tuna fishing operation” –D13 News Release

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Source NOAA: Albecore, Bluefin, Skipjack, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest

Coast Guard halts illegal use of “paper captains” in WA-based tuna fishing operation

ASTORIA, Ore. – The Coast Guard ceased the use of illegal foreign nationals on a commercial fishing vessel that operated out of the State of Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 19.

A Coast Guard Sector Columbia River law enforcement team inspected an 89-foot fishing vessel and determined that the vessel was in violation of the Jones Act – specifically, they were in violation for utilizing a “paper captain.”

Paper captain is a term applied to an individual listed on documents as a U.S.-flagged vessel’s captain but in actuality serves as a deckhand or in a similar lower-level capacity. It is the law (46 USC §12131) that a documented vessel be under the command of a U.S. citizen.

Many fishing vessels have engaged in a pattern and practice of hiring foreign nationals to serve on U.S. commercial fishing vessels in the capacity of captain, while U.S. nationals identified as captains on paper serve in subordinate roles. 

Many of these violations have been supplemented by underlying fraudulent documents designed to avoid detection and mask the illegal operation.

“The employment of a foreign national as captain aboard a U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessel is illegal,” said Lt. Cmdr. Colin Fogarty. the enforcement chief at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Oregon. “The practice of utilizing paper captains subverts U.S. laws and regulations designed to protect hard-working American fishermen and mariners.”

In addition to violating the Jones Act, the vessel had several safety violations including: expired Firefighting equipment; expired. degraded immersion suits; an inoperable Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) hydrostatic release: and failure to conduct safety drills.

The Coast Guard issued a Notice of Violation for $3,000.00 and the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was rescinded for violating the Jones Act.

Since 2020, the Coast Guard has detected a total of 10 Paper Captain Violations, primarily in the tuna fleets that operate throughout the Pacific Ocean. In total, Sector Columbia River and sister units have issued nearly $40,000 in fines directly linked to employment of foreign nationals as captains.