Medium endurance cutter: Difference between revisions

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USCGC ”Valiant” (WMEC-621) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 17 June 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!– not stated –> |date=17 June 2025 |title=Coast Guard Cutter Valiant celebrated for over 57 years of service during heritage recognition ceremony |url=https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4219645/coast-guard-cutter-valiant-celebrated-for-over-57-years-of-service-during-herit/ |location=Naval Station Mayport, Florida |publisher=Defense media Activity |agency=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref>

USCGC ”Valiant” (WMEC-621) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 17 June 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!– not stated –> |date=17 June 2025 |title=Coast Guard Cutter Valiant celebrated for over 57 years of service during heritage recognition ceremony |url=https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4219645/coast-guard-cutter-valiant-celebrated-for-over-57-years-of-service-during-herit/ |location=Naval Station Mayport, Florida |publisher=Defense media Activity |agency=United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security |access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref>

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{{Famous class cutter}}

{{Famous class cutter}}

{{Reliance class cutter}}

{{Reliance class cutter}}

Type of cutter in the U.S. Coast Guard

The Medium Endurance Cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter mainly consisting of the 270-foot (82 m) Famous– and 210-foot (64 m) Reliance-class cutters. These larger cutters are under control of Area Commands (Atlantic Area or Pacific Area).[1] These cutters have adequate accommodations for crew to live on board[1] and can do 6 to 8 week patrols.[2]

Other ships in the WMEC classification are the 282-foot (86 m) USCGC Alex Haley, and the now-decommissioned 213-foot (65 m) USCGC Acushnet, and 230-foot (70 m) USCGC Storis,[3] and 205-foot (62 m) USCGC Tamaroa which began as the United States Navy Cherokee-class fleet tug USS Zuni launched in 1943.

There are 13 vessels in the Famous class, and 12 vessels still in active US service in the Reliance class. The Coast Guard plans to eventually phase out the vessels in both of these cutter classes and replace them with the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Integrated Deepwater System Program.[4]

History

After World War II, the United States Coast Guard used the US Navy hull classification system. The large, sea-going cutters were classified primarily as Coast Guard gunboats (WPG), destroyer escorts (WDE), and seaplane tenders (WAVP). In 1965 the Coast Guard adopted its own designation system and these large cutters were then referred to as Coast Guard High Endurance Cutters (WHEC). The coastal cutters once known as Cruising Cutters, Second Class and then as Coast Guard patrol craft (WPC) were now Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutters (WMEC).”[5]

Famous-class cutter

Famous class
Builders
Operators United States Coast Guard
Built 1979–1989
In commission 1983–present
Completed 13
Active 13
Displacement 1,800 long tons (1,829 t)
Length 270 ft (82 m)
Beam 38 ft (12 m)
Draft 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
Installed power 2 × Caterpillar V12 diesel generators
Propulsion
Speed 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Range 9,900 nmi (18,300 km; 11,400 mi)
Complement 100 (14 officers, 86 enlisted)
Sensors &
processing systems
  • FCS MK 92 Mod 1
  • SPS-78 Surface Search Radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys		 AN/SLQ-32A(V)2
2 x Mark 36 SRBOC
Armament
  • 1 × OTO Melara Mark 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun
  • 2 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
Aviation facilities Helipad and hangar for HH-65 Dolphin or HH-60J Jayhawk

The Famous-class vessels have hull numbers in the range from WMEC-901 through WMEC-913. Entering service in the 1980s, the Famous-class cutters were designed as replacements for the 327-foot (100 m) Treasury-class cutters, and their mission profile emphasized law enforcement, particularly patrolling the newly established 200-mile (320 km) exclusive economic zone.[5]

The Coast Guard harvested weapons systems components from decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates to save money. Harvesting components from four decommissioned frigates resulted in more than $24 million in cost savings, which increased with parts from more decommissioned frigates. Equipment such as the Mark 75, 76 mm/62 caliber gun mounts, gun control panels, barrels, launchers, junction boxes, and other components from decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were returned to service aboard Famous-class cutters in order to extend their service lives into the 2030s.[6]

Ships in class

USCGC Harriet Lane moored at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
The cutter USCGC Seneca in the Casco Bay in Falmouth, Maine. Chebeague and Little Chebeague Island are behind her.
Famous class
Hull number Name Commissioned Status
WMEC-901 Bear February 4, 1983[7] Active
WMEC-902 Tampa March 16, 1984[7] Active
WMEC-903 Harriet Lane September 20, 1984[7] Active
WMEC-904 Northland December 17, 1984[7] Active
WMEC-905 Spencer June 28, 1986[7] Active
WMEC-906 Seneca May 4, 1987[7] Active
WMEC-907 Escanaba August 27, 1987[7] Active
WMEC-908 Tahoma April 6, 1988[7] Active
WMEC-909 Campbell August 19, 1988[7] Active
WMEC-910 Thetis June 30, 1989[7] Active
WMEC-911 Forward August 4, 1990[8] Active
WMEC-912 Legare August 4, 1990[8] Active
WMEC-913 Mohawk March 20, 1991[8] Active

Service life extension program

The service life extension program (SLEP) for eight cutters of the class started in July 2021 with prototype work for electrical and structural systems on the Seneca and Harriet Lane. Additionally, Harriet Lane served as the prototype for the replacement of the main gun with a Mk38 Mod 3 25mm machine gun.[9] The production phase of the SLEP, which will be carried out on Spencer, Legare, Campbell, Forward, Escanaba and Tahoma, covers four main areas: the electrical, structural and weapons systems work prototyped on Seneca and Harriet Lane and finally replacement of the main propulsion Diesel engines.[10] The last SLEP is expected to be complete by 2030.[11]

Reliance-class cutter

Reliance class
Builders
Operators
Built 1962–1968
In commission 1964–present
Completed 16
Active 12
Displacement 1,127.2 long tons (1,145 t) full load
Length
  • 210 ft 6 in (64.16 m) LOA
  • 200 ft (61 m) LWL
Beam 34 ft (10 m)
Draft 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Propulsion 2 × 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) ALCO 251B diesel engines
Speed 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement 75
Armament
Aviation facilities Helipad

The Reliance-class vessels have hull numbers in the range from WMEC-615 through WMEC-630. Entering service between 1964 and 1969, the Reliance-class cutters were meant to replace the 125-foot (38 m) cutters of the Prohibition era and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255-foot (78 m) Owasco-class cutters from World War II.[5]

The 210s (210-foot cutters) received upgrades and modifications (in a program named “Midlife Maintenance Availability” or MMA) during the 1986 through 1990 time period. The “A”-class cutters had their gas turbines removed, and all 210s had their stern transom exhaust systems replaced with a traditional stack. While this modification reduced the size of the flight deck, they were still more than capable of carrying out helicopter operations. Other modifications included enlarging the superstructure area, replacing the main armament, and increasing the fire-fighting capability of the cutters. The modifications cost approximately $20 million per cutter, well above their original cost of about $3.5 million each.[5]

Ships in class

USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616) in 1965. Note the lack of exhaust stacks and the exhaust ports at the waterline on the transom on the original design. Reliance class cutters would have stacks added during future overhauls.

USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 17 June 2025.[14]

USCGC Courageous (WMEC 622) was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as SLNS Samudura (P-621).

USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623) was decommissioned on 1 February 2024 and tranferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.[15]

USCGC Dauntless (WMEC-624) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 21 June 2024. As of that date she had served 56 years. She and Steadfast are the only two Coast Guard cutters to have seized one million pounds of marijuana.[16]

USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626) was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 9 April 2024. Her crew were transferred to other Coast Guard units to help meet the service-wide shortage of enlisted personnel.[17]

USCGC Durable (WMEC-628) was decommissioned on 20 September 2001. In 2003 she was transferred to the Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy as ARC Valle del Cauca (PO-44).

USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629) was decommissioned on 2 March 2023.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ a b “Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters”. United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-11-25. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  2. ^ “210′ / 270′ Medium Endurance Cutters”. Archived from the original on 2014-10-30. Retrieved 2012-12-11.[unreliable source?]
  3. ^ “Coast Guard Assets and Equipment”. United States Coast Guard Reserve. Archived from the original on 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  4. ^ “Coast Guard Modernization”. United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  5. ^ a b c d “WPC’s & WMEC’s: 1945-2000”. United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  6. ^ U.S. Navy harvests decommissioned Frigates weapon systems for U.S. Coast Guard use Archived 2015-06-26 at the Wayback Machine – Navyrecognition.com, 26 October 2014
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Scheina, Robert L. (1990). U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Craft, 1946-1990. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-87021-719-4.
  8. ^ a b c Polmar, Norman (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. Annapolis, Maryland: U.S. Naval Institute Press. p. 589. ISBN 978-1-59114-687-2.
  9. ^ a b “Coast Guard completes work on service life extension program prototype”. United States Coast Guard (Press release). Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  10. ^ a b c “Coast Guard begins production phase of medium endurance cutter service life extension program”. United States Coast Guard (Press release). Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  11. ^ a b “Coast Guard Cutter Spencer completes service life extension program”. United States Coast Guard (Press release). Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  12. ^ a b “Coast Guard cutters mark SLEP milestones for ISVS Program”. United States Coast Guard (Press release). Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  13. ^ “270-foot medium endurance cutter Legare begins service life extension program at Coast Guard Yard”. United States Coast Guard (Press release). Archived from the original on 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  14. ^ “Coast Guard Cutter Valiant celebrated for over 57 years of service during heritage recognition ceremony” (Press release). Naval Station Mayport, Florida: Defense media Activity. United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  15. ^ “U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast decommissioned after 56 years of service” (Press release). Washington, D.C.: Defense Media Activity. U.S. Department of Defense. 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  16. ^ “US Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony” (Press release). Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida: United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  17. ^ “US Coast Guard Cutter Dependable celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony” (Press release). Virginia Beach, Virginia, US: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area. 2024-04-10. Archived from the original on 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  18. ^ “USCGC Decisive decommissioned after 55 years of service” (Press release). Washington DC: Defense Media Activity. United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-10-01.

References

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