NavyRecognition is reporting award of a contract for 39 high speed 32.2 meter vessels that will probably be going to the Saudi Coast Guard.

In view of the need to replace the 87 foot Marine Protector class in the not too distant future, (The oldest, USCGC Barracuda (WPB-87301) was commissioned 20 years ago today, 24 April 1998.) this class might be worth a look. It is an example of the possible.

This is a CMN (French) design. CMN his a long history of building high speed vessels including the Israeli SA’AR 1, 2, and 3 missile boats and the widely used La Combattante series of fast attack craft.

Characteristics are reported as follows:

Length Overall : 32.20 m (105.6 ft)
Beam Overall : 7.00 m (23 ft)
Maximum draught : 1.40 m (4.6 ft)
Maximum speed : 43 Knots
Range at 12 Knots : 800 NM
Range at 33 Knots : 580 NM
Crew : 12
Fuel : 21 m3
Fresh water : 1 m3
Hull & Superstructure : Aluminium
Classification : Bureau Veritas

4.8 m outboard RHIB mounted on stern ramp

Three diesel engines

Three Waterjets : Two steering & one booster

Two main generators

Yes, it is larger than the Marine Protector class 87 foot WPBs by 19 feet, but the Webber class are 44 feet longer than the 110s they replaced, so the gap between new generation vessels would be greater than the previous generation 48 feet vice 23 feet.

Range, endurance, and crew size are similar to that of the Marine Protector class.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know I think the Webber class WPCs are, and are being used as, more small cruising cutter than as a “Fast Response Cutter” sitting in port waiting for a SAR call. These could be the real “fast response cutter,” and in many cases, they could beat a helicopter to the scene.

The US Naval Institute News Service is reporting the Navy plans to release a new Arctic Strategy this summer ” to reflect the potential for “blue-water Arctic” operations.” Additionally they expect to have more Navy and Marine training and presence in the Arctic.

MSC M/V Ocean Giant at the ice pier, McMurdo Station

The Military Sealift Command has given us a three part series on their operations to resupply McMurdo Station

“Military Sealift Command’s Expeditionary Port Unit 114 Gets Operation Deep Freeze 2018 Underway On Time”

“Military Sealift Command Chartered Ship Arrives in Antarctica in Support of Operation Deep Freeze 2018”

“MSC Operation Deep Freeze 2018 Fuel Delivery Operations begin at McMurdo Station With Arrival of M/T Maersk Peary”

Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention. 

Plimsoll mark. Photo by Wualex

Here is a short well written article about how ships are marked. “The Secret Language of Ships” which appeared in the Hakai Magazine.

Thanks to gCaptain for bringing this to my attention. 

CoastGuardNews reports that Vice President Pence is scheduled to attend the Graduation of the Coast Guard Academy class of 2018 on Wednesday, May 23rd.

Milkor high-speed 12 meter interceptor

NavyRecognition brings us a report of a proposed craft based on an innovative full form, a hydrofoil assisted catamaran.

There is more info on the design from the originator here.

They claim a 54 knot top speed. They also claim five days endurance, but it doesn’t look like that is a reasonable expectation for normal operations, since it has a crew of only four and only two bunks. It is only 12 meters (40 feet) long with a beam of 4.8 meters (15.7′).

Still this new tech is not just vaporware. The Corps of Engineers has taken delivery of a survey vessel using this technology, S/V Ewell.

All aluminum S/V Ewell has a 61 ft 4 in length overall and 24 ft beam.

“Designed and built to Lloyd’s Register Special Service Craft rules, the Ewell is equipped with twin 985 bhp MAN V8 propulsion engines which each turn a Hamilton waterjet allowing for quick mobilization and response at high speeds in excess of 34 knots and survey speeds up to 10 knots.”

Like most aspects of Naval Architecture, there are compromises. This hull form is for vessels that can be kept light and will spend a lot of time at high cruise speeds.

A final note: The MILKOR design includes a 40mm grenade launcher as its main armament. Having tested a 40mm grenade launcher as a naval weapon, I found they are unsuitable for use against another vessel. They might be OK for laying down suppressive fire against an enemy on shore, but their long time of flight and high trajectory means they are very inaccurate against moving point targets.

At Naval Base San Diego, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Fred Midgette, Commander, Pacific Area, Commander, Coast Guard Defense Force West answers questions during a press conference where he announced that 39,000 pounds of cocaine had been seized during the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche’s current deployment, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, in San Diego. The Coast Guard cutter on Thursday off-loaded narcotics that were confiscated in 25 separate busts that took place off the coasts of Central and South America over the past fiscal year. (Howard Lipin/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports an address by Pacific Area Commander and Commander Coast Guard Defense Force West, Vice Admiral Fred M. Midgette, discussing the need to address operating budget short falls.

Incidentally, VAdm. Midgette has spent some time afloat.

“Vice Admiral Midgette has served afloat on both coasts and the Great Lakes, earning designation as a Coast Guard Cutterman and a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer. He has commanded four Coast Guard cutters and served afloat on the CGC TANEY (Portsmouth, VA); USS FIFE (San Diego, CA); CGC POINT LEDGE (Fort Bragg, CA); CGC POINT WINSLOW (Eureka & Morro Bay, CA); CGC KATMAI BAY (Sault Ste. Marie, MI); CGC HARRIET LANE (Portsmouth, VA); CGC FORWARD (Portsmouth, VA); and America’s Tall Ship – the Coast Guard Barque EAGLE (New London, CT). He is the 14th Gold Ancient Mariner of the Coast Guard – an honorary position held by an officer with over ten years of cumulative sea duty who has held the qualification as a Cutterman longer than any other officer.”

Nice to see a 327 sailor made good.