Belated Recognition for a Coast Guard Hero. 

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Representative Patrick L. Meehan of the 7th Congressional District entered a statement into the Congressional Record in recognition of Emlin Tunnell.

He had a proud Coast Guard history.

On April 27, 1944, the Coast Guard-manned cargo ship USS Etamin was unloading 6000 tons of explosives and gasoline while at anchor at Aitape Harbor, Papua New Guinea. Without warning, Etamin was attacked by Japanese aircraft and a torpedo blew a hole 27 feet by 27 feet in the ship’s starboard side.

With the shell plating and shaft alley of Etamin ruptured, gasoline sprayed over the after part of the ship, creating a dangerous situation for all aboard. It was Coast Guard Steward’s Mate Emlen Lewis Tunnel who came to the aid of Machinist’s Mate First Class Fred Shaver, who was on fire, pulling him to safety and severely burning his own hands in the process.

Two years later,

On March 17, 1946, Tunnell was nominated for the Silver Lifesaving Medal for once again saving the life of a fellow shipmate.

His shipmate, Alfred Givens, fell off the dock of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa. Without regard to his own safety, Tunnell jumped into the 32-degree seas and rescued Givens. Tunnell saved his drowning shipmate, and despite being in the water for only fifteen minutes, suffered exposure and shock.

Unfortunately, probably because to the bias against African Americans, the award was not approved until 2011, after Tunnell’s death.

Tunnell had a very successful career in the NFL, but died at age 50.

Perhaps he is a candidate to be a a namesake for a Webber class.

Thanks to Terry A. for bringing this to my attention. 

New French Friends in the Caribbean Neighborhood

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French Navy Guyana-based Light Patrol Vessel PLG La Confiance is Now on Active Duty

French Navy PLG light patrol vessel La Confiance in combined anti-drug training with US Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser. French Navy picture.

NavyRecognition reports,

“The “La Confiance” PLG (Patrouilleur Léger Guyanais or French Guyana-based Light Patrol Vessel) is now on “Active Duty” and able to conduct operational missions following a ceremony held April 27th…”

It is the first of two small ships of a new class designed specifically for service in the French Atlantic EEZ in the Western Hemisphere. The size is a bit unusual.

They will replace two P400 class patrol craft currently based in French Guyana. The P400s are about the same size as the Webber class “Fast Response Cutters.”

The French do not have an ocean-going coast guard like ours, so their navy does many of the functions performed by the USCG. The new ships make an interesting comparison with the Webber class; I think they even look a bit alike. In many ways the PLG corresponds to what I suggested earlier as cutter X:

…taking the crew and equipment of a Webber class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) and putting them in a larger hull with more endurance and seakeeping, while accepting lower top speed than the FRC.

Comparing the “La Confiance” PLG to the FRCs:

  • Displacement: PLG 700 tons; FRC 354 full load
  • Crew: 24, same for both, PLG can also accomodate 14 people, special forces for example.
  • Dimensions: PLG  60 m (197 ft) x 9.50 m (31.2 ft) x 3.2 m  (10.5 ft); FRC 46.8 m (154 ft) x 8.11 m (26.6 ft) x 2.9 m (9.5 ft)
  • Power: PLG 6,000 KW (8,046 HP), FRC 8,600 KW (11,600 HP)
  • Speed: PLG 21, FRC 28
  • Range: PLG 3,500 nmi at 12 knots, FRC 2,950 at 14 knots
  • Endurance: PLG 12 days; FRC 5 days
  • Boats: PLG two, FRC one

La confiance PLG patrol vessel french navy 1

French Navy La Confiance PLG light patrol vessel arriving in Fort-de-France, Martinique. Picture: E.Mocquillon © Marine nationale

More from the builder here.

Littoral Challenges Addressed at OPTECH South 2017–DefenseMediaNetwork

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littoral optech south

DefenseMediaNetwork reports on a conference organized by the Naval War College conducted in Colombia,

“With the theme of “transnational threats and cooperation in the littorals,” the objective of OPTECH South has been to develop cooperative and technologically advanced ways impede kidnappings, drug running, and prevent other transnational threats and crimes in the Western Hemisphere that are affordable and sustainable.”

Sounds like something the Coast Guard would be interested in.

There were representatives from SOUTHCOM, OPNAV, ONR, NPS, CJCS, Canada, Brazil, Australia, UK, and Mexico. Noted that I saw no mention of the USCG and inquired if there was USCG representation. Had an e-mail discussion with one of the organizers of the conference, Stephan Benson, and he confirmed that there was no US Coast Guard representation at the conference.

I know we are short of money but found this curious.

They are now looking for USCG representation at OPTECH North.

Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention. 

Webber Class WPC Homeport Update

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USCGC Kathleen Moore (WPC-1109)

Below is a news release quoted fully. “US Coast Guard to base 2 new cutters in Astoria, Oregon” (sent 04/28/2017 04:31 PM EDT) Note this will happen “starting in 2021.” My estimate is, the first WPC going to Astoria will be FRC #42 give or take one or two numbers. If so, the first Astoria based WPC will probably be funded in FY2017.  This news release may have been intended to asssure the Oregon Congressional delegation that they would be getting some benefit from the FY2017 CG budget.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday it will homeport two of the service’s new Sentinel-Class 154-foot Fast Response Cutters (FRC) in Astoria, Oregon, starting in 2021. These two ships have not yet been named, but the FRCs are named after enlisted Coast Guard personnel who distinguished themselves in the line of duty.
Each of the two Astoria-based FRCs will provide the coastal maritime community with a 30 percent increase in annual operating hours on regional waters over the Coast Guard’s legacy 110-foot Island class patrol boats like the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas, homeported in Coos Bay, Oregon.
The FRC is equipped with improved command and control capability as well as increased sea-keeping abilities, operational range, a larger crew and higher transit speeds than the aging110-foot patrol boats. A larger, more capable stern launch cutter boat allows the FRC to conduct search-and-rescue and interdiction operations up to 50 miles away from the cutter, which greatly extends the vessel’s reach over the Coast Guard’s legacy patrol boat fleet.
The Orcas will continue to operate from its homeport in Coos Bay until its service is replaced by the first of the Astoria-based FRCs in 2021.
The Coast Guard is presently examining potential homeport sites within Astoria for the two as-yet-to-be-named FRCs.

Where are they now?

I have only seen definite homeports for ships through #23. There are 18 in D7 (six in Miami, six in Key West, and six in Puerto Rico), two in Cape May, two will be in Ketchikan, and one in Pascagoula. That leaves 35.

Where will they be going?

Wikipedia indicates USCGC Oliver F. Berry (WPC-1124) will go to Honolulu. (The Wiki entry lists the vessels by name and hull number and provides their homeports.)

Honolulu and Pascagoula will likely get at least one additional cutter. Other future homeports already identified are:

San Pedro, CA
Atlantic Beach, NC
Apra, Guam

I’ve seen indication we will have three in Apra. If we put three in San Pedro and two in Atlantic Beach (only a guesstamate) that only takes us to #34, with 24 still to allocate.

Where will the rest go?:

Homeports of the remaining 110 foot Island class WPBs is probably the best indication. Other than the ports already mentioned these include:

  • South Portland, ME
  • Gloucester, MA
  • Woods Hole, MA (two)
  • Bayonne, NJ
  • San Diego, CA
  • Port Angeles, WA
  • Hilo, HI
  • Auke Bay, AK
  • Homer, AK
  • Petersburg, AK
  • Seward, AK
  • Valdez, AK
  • Manama, Bahrain (six)

Looking at my earlier post, “Ruminating on Homeports While Playing the Red Cell,” other ports we might want to think about include:

  • Houston/Galveston/Texas City
  • San Francisco Bay
  • Anchorage, AK–a Strategic Seaport

 

Press Release: C-144 Update

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Below is a press release from the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9).

Test flights on the HC-144B Minotaur prototype aircraft began in March. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Acquisition Update: HC-144 Program Reaches Ocean Sentry Refresh, Minotaur Mission System Milestones

April 25, 2017

The Coast Guard’s HC-144 Ocean Sentry medium range surveillance (MRS) aircraft program reached two milestones last quarter. First, the HC-144 program received design approval and commenced Ocean Sentry Refresh (OSR) modifications at the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Second, the program completed the Minotaur mission system suite prototype integration efforts and began test flights at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

The OSR project upgrades the HC-144As with a new Flight Management System, which manages communication control, navigation and equipment monitoring. Upon completion of OSR upgrades, each aircraft is redesignated as an HC-144B. The Coast Guard’s Aircraft Configuration Control Board approved the HC-144B configuration and certified OSR upgrades as airworthy March 15. To date, two HC-144B aircraft have been produced: CGNR 2307, the prototype, and CGNR 2306, which validated and verified the changes.

Work to convert CGNR 2307 into the HC-144B Minotaur prototype began in July 2016, with integration and installation completed in January 2017. Coast Guard aircrews, along with Navy and industry personnel, began conducting test flights in March. Minotaur is mission system software architecture used across multiple Defense and Homeland Security department platforms. CGNR 2307 is scheduled for delivery this summer and is planned to enter service later this year.

For more information: HC-144 program page

 

Russia Builds Very Large Rescue Cutter–But Not for Their CG

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Shipyard in West Russia lays down Project 23700 Rescue Support Ship Voyevoda

NavyRecognition has a report on a new ships under construction, the Project 23700 rescue support ship Voyevoda.  You might assume a rescue vessel would be built for their Coast Guard, but this was ordered by Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry and will be operated by the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport (Rosmorrechflot)

The Project 23700 ship Voyevoda is designed to support rescue operations and transport and supply small search and rescue craft. The ship can carry four boats and two helicopters. The vessel has a displacement of 7,500 tons, a length of 111 meters, a width of 24 meters, a speed of 22 knots and endurance of 5,000 miles.

Novel Gun Mount

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NavalToday has a short piece on the new German F-125 frigate. It is primarily to show the video above, of the frigate firing its 27mm guns and 5″/64 Otobreda.

The unusual aspect of the video is the way the mounts for the 27mm guns lean out (see 1:25). I’m not sure it is worth the complication, but it does permit the gun to fire at targets close alongside near the waterline. It probably means it can be fired on bearings closer to the bow and stern too.

Thanks to Mike R. for bringing this to my attention.