“Media Advisory: U.S. Coast Guard Academy to commission the Maritime Center of Excellence”

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Coast Guard Academy during the 141st Commencement Exercises May 18, 2022. The Coast Guard Academy graduated 252 new officers along with nine international students. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Mr. David Lau)

Below is a press release. For some reason it did not come with the usual header identifying point of origin, just the email address, U.S. Coast Guard  uscoastguard@service.govdelivery.com. Nice to see some emphasis on professional development.

It talks about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification but does not say what that is. There is an explanation here. 

Media Advisory: U.S. Coast Guard Academy to commission the Maritime Center of Excellence

Who: U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association

Speakers available for comment:

  • Rear Adm. Bill Kelly, 42nd Superintendent of USCGA
  • Andrea Marcille, President of USCGA Alumni Association
  • Greg Mella, Vice President, Corporate Director of Sustainability and Principal Architect, SmithGroup
  • Tilak Subrahmanian, Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility, Eversource
  • Bob Laurence, Manager, Energy Efficiency, Eversource

What: A behind the scenes look at the Maritime Center of Excellence (MCOE), prior to the official opening ceremony at 4 p.m.

Why: The MCOE is the first LEED-certified major construction project to update the Academy’s 90-year old campus. Its presence will transform the landscape of the waterfront campus, and help young women and men from across the country develop a liking for the sea and its lore.

Where: USCGA waterfront 31 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320

When: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 at 1p.m.

How: All interested media should contact USCGA Public Affairs at cga-public-affairs@uscga.edu or (860) 857-5544 by Tuesday, Oct. 11 at noon.

A valid ID will be required for entry onto campus.

“Nordic Countries’ Response To Nord Stream Sabotage” –Naval News

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File:Major russian gas pipelines to europe.png Created: 15 November 2009 Prepared by Samuel Bailey (sam.bailus@gmail.com)

Naval News reports on the Nordic response to the apparent sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. Coast guards are involved.

This raises the question of who protects undersea infrastructure? I don’t think there has been a lot of interest in or discussion of this question in the US. Certainly the USCG has a role.

Whatever Happened to Buoy Tender Redbud (WLB-398)? Coast Guard, Navy, MSTS, Philippine Navy, Philippine CG

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The U.S. Navy buoy tender USS Redbud (AKL-398) underway off Point Loma, California (USA), in 1949.

A small footnote on Coast Guard history, but it does illustrate how versatile buoy tenders are. A “C” class 180 transferred to the Navy becomes a AKL (Auxiliary Cargo, Light). Becomes a jack of all trades in support of DOD air bases, early warning radar systems, and even LORAN stations.

Redbud Class Light Cargo Ship:

  • Laid down, 21 July 1943, for the US Coast Guard as a lighthouse tender, at Marine Iron and Shipbuilding, Duluth, MN.
  • Launched, 11 September 1943
  • Commissioned, USCGC Redbud (WLB-398), 2 May 1944
  • Acquired on loan by the US Navy in 1949
  • Classified as a Light Cargo Ship and commissioned USS Redbud (AKL-398), 23 July 1949, LCDR. Francis E. Clark USN in command
  • Decommissioned and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 28 February 1952
  • Placed in service as USNS Redbud (T-AKL-398)
  • Placed out of service and returned to the US Coast Guard, 10 November 1970
  • Struck from the Naval Register 20 November 1970
  • Transferred to the Philippines, 1 March 1972, renamed BRP Kalinga (AG-89)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown

Guess the ice strengthened hull came in handy. More photos from Navsource.

USS Redbud (AKL-398) moored pierside at Danish Naval Station Groennedal, Greenland, circa 1949 – 1950. Photo Source Arktisk Institut. Senior Chief, Erling Baldorf, Royal Danish Navy, retired

USNS Redbud (T-AKL-398) underway in the Arctic on a resupply mission from Thule Greenland to U.S. Coast Guard LORAN (Long Range Navigation Station) at Cape Athol, Greenland in 1967.
Photo by Lawrence Rodrigues

USNS Redbud (T-AKL-398), held immobile by the Arctic ice pack, January 1952. Photo Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret

Ex-USNS Redbud (T-AKL-398) in Philippines Coast Guard service as BRP Kalinga (AG-89) moored in Manila South Harbor, 26 January 2020.

“Colombia inks deal that could see Damen build five Sigma frigates” –Defense News

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Colombian Navy SIGMA frigate

Defense News reports, one of our primary partners in drug interdiction efforts is expected to significantly upgrade their naval capabilities.

Colombia is launching a $2 billion shipbuilding program that would see its Navy acquire five frigates.

The announcement, made last week, was followed by the signing on Tuesday of an initial contract between local shipbuilder Cotecmar and Dutch company Damen to adapt the latter’s Sigma 10514 design to meet the Colombian Navy’s requirements.

This is a significant step toward self sufficiency in naval construction. It is a step up after Cotemar built three Fassmer 80 meter Offshore Patrol Vessels.

The new ships will replace four smaller 95 meter, 1850 ton full load, German built light frigate/corvettes that were commissioned in 1983/84.

If these new ships are in fact 120 meters in length and at least 2800 tons full load, they will be the largest ships of the SIGMA series. (At one time I expected a SIGMA series ship would have been a contender in the Offshore Patrol Cutter program.)

Apparently they have not made a final choice of weapons and sensors. I would not be surprised if they were equipped much like the Mexican SIGMA frigate, which is armed with weapons sourced from the US, including RGM-84L Harpoon Block II, eight Mk56 VLS for ESSM, MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes with two MK 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (SVTT) triple tube launchers, Block II Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) missiles and Bofors 57 mm gun.

It seems likely the additional length compared to the Mexican ship will be to improve some capability, I would guess ASW. Mk41 VLS would allow greater flexibility including launch of ASROC and potentially land attack missiles.

It is widely known Colombia and Venezuela have not been getting along well. Colombia probably considers Venezuela their pacing threat. If that is the case, most, if not all five of the new ships will likely be based on the Caribbean side. These ships should provide an advantage vs the Venezuelan Navy.

Major naval bases of the Colombian Navy (Armada de la República de Colombia – ARC)
Colombian Navy (ARC) Marine Infantry Primary base and training school, Covenas
Source: Iceman0108. Background map: Mapa de Colombia (relieve-ríos) by Milenioscuro

Below, video of the latest SIGMA series ship, Mexican frigate ARM Benito Juárez (F 101), as it arrives for participation in RIMPAC 2022: 

The Offshore Patrol Cutter’s Multi-Mode Radar

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SeaGiraffe AMB radar. AN/SPS-77

The showed up on the DOD “Contracts For Sept. 30, 2022.” It is in reference to the Sea Giraffe AMB radar, which has the U.S. designation AN/SPS-77

Saab, Inc., Syracuse, New York, is awarded a $15,002,000 firm-fixed-price undefinitized contract for Multi-Mode Radar production for the United States Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (60%), and Gothenburg, Sweden (40%) and is expected to be completed by April 2025. Fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,101,480 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1) — only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the needs of the agency. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-22-C-5530).

I found previous reports of procurement of this system for the OPC program in 20217, 2018, and 2019, but none for 2020 or 2021. This is probably for the fourth OPC. The April 2025 delivery date sounds about right, since the fourth OPC will probably not be delivered until 2026. 

This radar also equips all Independence class Littoral Combat Ships and at least some of the Expeditionary Sea Base shps.

An air control variant is expected to equip Nimitz class aircraft carriers and America- (LHA) and Wasp- (LHD) class amphibious assault ships.

This type radar also now equips two of the former USCG Hamilton class 378 foot cutters. All three Philippine 378s are expected to be so equipped.

“SouthCom Needs an Oiler” –USNI

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USCGC Legare WMEC-912 refueling from Chilean Navy Oiler Almirante Montt

The October issue of US Naval Institute Proceedings has an article advocating regular assignment of a Navy Underway Replenishment (UNREP) vessel to support drug interdiction operations in the Eastern Pacific. The authors are serving Coast Guard officers,

  • Captain Michael Cilenti, U.S. Coast Guard, a career cutterman, a staff director at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and 
  • Commander Matthew Rooney, U.S. Coast Guard, a career cutterman and a student at the U.S. Army War College.

I would say “Amen!”

The article notes this would allow interdiction operations to become less predictable and would reduce time spent in transit to and from station. This could improve and speed handling of detainees. The unrep ships might even conduct some drug enforcement operations themselves.

The authors make a very good point, about the need for more underway replenishment ships,

“Some may push back against additional oiler deployments to SouthCom, citing a lack of available assets. But replenishment at sea—referred to as the Navy’s secret weapon by Admiral Chester Nimitz during World War II—will no doubt be foundational to any future conflict. If the Navy has too few assets to meet steady-state peacetime operations, how would it be able to support even short-term sustained combat operations in the far-flung corners of the globe?”

The title calls for an oiler (T-AO), but the article also mentions ” a T-AKE or allied oiler.” One of the Lewis and Clark class T-AKE dry cargo ships is actually a good option because, even though they carry only “limited quantities of fuel,” their 23,450 barrel capacity is enough to refuel a Bertholf class National Security Cutter more than four time from absolutely empty and they can simultaneously provide virtually every other type of stores that might be required.

Another way to achieve the same objective might be for the US Navy to transfer one or two Henry J. Kaiser class oilers to Colombia as they are replace by newer ships and work cooperatively with them.

I would note that, this would not only help Coast Guard cutters, it would also help Navy ships doing drug interdiction missions, which are typically Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships. They have far less range than the large cutter do. Allied vessels doing drug enforcement in the Eastern Pacific might also benefit.

An underway replenishment ship might also make use of Webber class cutters (FRCs) for drug interdiction more efficient, mitigating their limited endurance. While I would expect methods for replenishment directly from the underway replenishment ship would be developed, their availability would also encourage use of larger cutter to refuel and resupply the patrol craft. The underway replenishment ship might also provide aviation support for the FRCs that have no organic air support.

“Coast Guard aircrews putting MH-65E new capabilities to good use” –CG-9

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MH-65E interior.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) has an excellent post about the upgrades that bring the MH-65s up to the “Echo” standard.

While there is a long term intent to ultimately move to an all H-60 fleet, the H-65 fleet still has a future.

In conjunction with the upgrades, the Coast Guard is completing service life extension program activities on the Dolphin fleet to replace five major structural components: the nine-degree frame, canopy, center console floor assembly, floorboards and side panels. These mission-critical improvements are designed to extend the service life of the helicopter by 10,000 flight hours.

The Coast Guard plans to convert all 98 aircraft to the MH-65E configuration by the end of fiscal year 2024.

“Sea Serpent ASW system successfully used by US Navy” –Navy Recognition

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Sea Serpent system deployed from a boat (MIND photo)

Navy Recognition reports,

“On September 27, 2022, MIND Technologies Inc., a Texas/U.S.-based company providing underwater research solutions, announced the successful demonstration of its Sea Serpent ASW system during the U.S. Navy’s Coastal Trident 2022 exercise.”

The Sea Serpent system is described by Mind Technologies as,

  • “…based on COTS Seismic Arrays, applicable for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and Waterside Security (WSS) applications.
  • “…designed for rapid deployment from USV platforms or as a ‘clip-on’ capability to existing light- and medium-weight Coast Guard (emphasis appkied–Chuck) or Naval vessels
  • “…modular and scalable, with lengths from 50 m to over 12,000 m acoustic aperture available
  • “Processing uses a scalable, app-based architecture and includes multiple beamforming options,  as well as broadband, narrowband/LOFAR, and DEMON processing
  • “Other apps will include Automatic Detection and Tracking (ADT) and Target Motion Analysis (TMA)
  • “The architecture is fully open to allow third-party/government processing and supports private cloud operation for distributed tracking, multi-static processing, and data fusion.”

All the reports I have seen were based on the company’s news release so we don’t have an independent evaluation of its success.

An exercise with the United States Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team-West was leveraged to conduct Advanced Naval Technology Exercise experiments with wearable sensors and remote physiological monitoring.

Coastal Trident is a series of annual exercises conducted by Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Port Hueneme Division. Apparently the Coast Guard has participated in the exercise in the past. It certainly seems to be something the CG should be interested in.

 

“The Long Blue Line: LANTAREA’s PATFORSWA Managers—over 15 years of leadership!”

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MyCG has a new post that reports on the history of an element of Atlantic Area staff that has been manned by reservists, but it is more than that. It charts the history of Coast Guard efforts in support of Central Command over more than 16 years. It also reports that the Reservists are being releaved by an Active Duty/Civilian staff.

It is an interesting read.

“COAST GUARD Workforce Planning Actions Needed to Address Growing Cyberspace Mission Demands” –GAO

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A team from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy participated in the National Security Agency’s 20th annual National Cyber Exercise (NCX), a three-day cyber competition that tests the offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills virtually, April 8-10, 2021. The Coast Guard Academy recently instituted a Cyber Systems degree to meet the needs of the services cyber security strategy of defending cyber space, enabling operations, and protecting infrastructure. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Hunter Medley)

The GAO has issued a report that finds the Coast Guard is not doing all GAO thinks Coast Guard should be doing, to manage its cyber work force. You can see the one page summary here, it has a nice bar graph. I have reproduced most of the summary below. You can see the entire 40 page report here.

The most striking thing for me, was to see how many Coast Guard people are now employed in cyber. 4507 positions are authorized and 4095 are filled. That is a big chunk of the Coast Guard’s total manpower. It is totally justified considering they are protecting not just the Coast Guard, but the entire maritime transportation system.

A recent US Naval Institute Proceedings article, “Cyber Warfare Is a Navy Mission” discusses why cyber has become so important and also suggests that the Navy needs to take larger role in maritime economic cyber. Apparently the Navy has not been paying much attention to this, but the potential is there, that they may.

What GAO Found

The Coast Guard is increasingly dependent upon its cyberspace workforce to
maintain and protect its information systems and data from threats. As of
September 2021, the Coast Guard determined it had 4,507 authorized
cyberspace workforce positions (i.e., funded positions that could be vacant or
filled), consisting of military and civilian personnel.

Coast Guard guidance calls for the service to use its Manpower Requirements
Determination process to assess and determine necessary staffing levels and
skills to meet mission needs. However, GAO found that the service had not used
this process for a large portion of its cyberspace workforce. For example, as of
February 2022, the Coast Guard had not used this process for three
headquarters units that collectively represent 55 percent of its cyberspace
workforce positions. Until such analysis is completed, the Coast Guard will not
fully understand the resources it requires, including those to protect its
information systems and data from threats.

Of 12 selected recruitment, retention, and training leading practices, the Coast
Guard fully implemented seven, partially implemented three, and did not
implement two. By fully implementing these leading practices, the Coast Guard
could better manage its cyberspace workforce. For example, it has not
developed a strategic workforce plan for its cyberspace workforce. According to
leading recruitment practices, such a plan should include three elements: (1)
strategic direction, (2) supply, demand, and gap analyses, and (3) solution
implementation, along with monitoring the plan’s progress to address all
cyberspace competency and staffing needs. Without having such a plan, the
Coast Guard will likely miss opportunities to recruit for difficult to fill cyberspace
positions.