“Reinvent the Fifth Armed Service, Quickly”-USNI

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Chuck Hill

The August issue of US Naval Institute Proceedings is appropriately enough, the “Coast Guard Issue,” although less than a third of the content is Coast Guard related. I was disappointed but not surprised to see that there was no article about the OPC. It includes four articles that are written by Coasties, active or retired, and includes a “rouges gallery” of CG flag officers and senior enlisted as well an orgainizational chart.

There is one particular article I’d like to recommend that actually dares to be a bit controversial, and it is available on line, “Reinvent the Fifth Armed Service, Quickly”. I think it is definitely worth a read.

They talk about

reorganization within the Coast Guard
exploitation of UAS technology
integration of DHS maritime aviation and vessel fleets.
coordination of procurement with the Navy
integration of the NOAA fleet into the Coast Guard

As I say it is controversial, it is going to ruffle some feathers, and hopefully it will start some thinking and some discussion.

Nicaragua Ungrades Law Enforcement with Help from–the Russians?

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Chuck Hill

Russia will supply Nicaragua with six missile and patrol boats

A couple of interesting notes regarding waters where the Coast Guard frequently operates, both concerning Nicaragua. First they seem to be getting drug enforcement intelligence from the Russians, and the US does not mind. Second they are getting six vessels from the Russians, that may be usable for law enforcement or for possible sovereignty patrols over their newly expanded EEZ.

Two of these ships are 550 ton ASUW and AAW missile equipped Molniya Class Corvettes like the one pictured above, a development of the older Turantul Class Corvette. The other four are closer to 110 foot WPBs, if a bit more heavily armed.

Costa Rica is apparently concerned. I’ve got a soft spot for Costa Rica. Their only armed service is their Coast Guard, and they have had some run-ins with Nicaragua in the past.

Happy Coast Guard Day

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Chuck Hill

A couple of items in case you missed them. The President’s message to the Coast Guard, and photos from a memorial ceremony at Grand Haven two days ago.

Coast Guard Adopts Ozone Widget Format

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Chuck Hill

fiercehomelandsecurity.com is reporting that the Coast Guard has adopted the NSA’s “Ozone” widget framework to be used as part of the Watchkeeper port security information sharing network. Perhaps this means something to some of you. I have only a very foggy notion what a widget is, and only because there are some widgets used on this web site.

But there is also some disturbing information also included in the post.

The Coast Guard has acknowledged difficulty in convincing port security agencies to utilize WatchKeeper. During a September subcommittee hearing, Stephen Caldwell, Government Accountability Office director of homeland security and justice issues, noted that research for a February 2012 report (.pdf) found that 82 percent of those given access to WatchKeeper “had never even logged on.”

Icebreaker Fleets of the World

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Chuck Hill

The US Naval Institute News has published a chart, prepared by the USCG, listing their best estimate of the world icebreaker fleets. Ships are listed by country, horsepower class, and year the ship entered service. Ships under construction or planned are also listed.

Only ships of more than 10,000 Brake Horse Power (7,457 MW), capable of independent Arctic operation, are included. There are notations to indicate nuclear propulsion, whether the ship has made it to the North Pole, whether it is government owned, and if the ship is designed specifically for the Baltic.

Snippets from the News

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Chuck Hill

A couple of items that might be of interest.

If there was any doubt about the viciousness of the drug wars in Mexico, this ought to clarify things: Recently a Mexican Navy Vice Admiral was ambushed and murdered.

The Italian Coast Guard launches the first of two new ships. Relatively large at 310 feet long and 3,600 tons full load, but not nearly as capable as the projected Offshore Patrol Cutter, to me this looks like an adaptation of an oil industry Offshore Support Vessel. Most interesting feature is electric propulsion. Raytheon’s integrated bridge system might also be interesting, but there are no details in the story. Reasonable question is, can they can function effectively with a crew of only 38 or do they need additional augmentation for each mission. Apparently they can routinely berth up to 60 in addition to the crew, and up to 600 additional in case of an emergency. This last is a reflection of Italy’s Alien Migrant Interdiction problem.

Well Blowout Gulf of Mexico

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Chuck Hill

There has been another well blow out and fire in the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike Deepwater Horizon there were apparently no personnel casualties and this is in relatively shallow water (154 feet) 55 miles off Louisiana. Report here from gCaptain.

S. Korea Transfers Ship to Colombia for Drug Enforcement

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Chuck Hill

MarineForum, 23 July, is reporting

“The Colombian navy will be given a decommissioned (in service 1983, out of service 2011) South Korean corvette …for anti-drug operations … part of South Korean plans to boost arms exports to Latin America) (rmks: dates given seem to indicate DONG HAE class 755 AN YANG)

Coast Guard units may have an opportunity to work with this vessel. Here are the specs for the ship found in Wikipedia. No helicopter deck, but perhaps that might be changed, otherwise looks like a good addition for drug enforcement.

Displacement:	1,076 tonnes (1,059 long tons; 1,186 short tons)
Length:	78.1 m (256 ft 3 in)
Beam:	9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draft:	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	CODOG unit
Speed:	Maximum: 31 knots (57 km/h) Cruising: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Range:	4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km)
Crew:	95
Sensors and processing systems:	EDO 786 hull mounted sonar
Armament:	• 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 compact cannon • 2× Emerson 30mm twin guns • 1× Bofors 40mm/56 twin guns • 2× Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (with 6× Mark 46 torpedoes) • 12× Mark 9 depth charges

Proposed New Maritime Patrol Aircraft for Canada

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Chuck Hill

The Canadian American Strategic Review has information on a proposed new maritime Patrol Aircraft that would use components of the US Navy’s P-8 including its radar in a Canadian build Challenger 605 bizjet airframe.

Canada Refuses to Accept Maritime Helicopters from Sikorsky

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Chuck Hill

The Coast Guard has had its share of acquisition problems, but it seems the Canadians may be having more than their fair share (submarines, replenishment vessels, shipbuilding programs in general). They have been attempting to replace their Seaqking ASW helicopter and selected Sikorsky–usually a safe choice. Instead of a smooth transition, they have had repeated delays and disappointments. DefenseNews reports on the latest chapter.

These are admittedly more complex than SAR helos, but note that the Seakings they are replacing are the same generation as the HH-3Fs the Coast Guard replaced decades ago.