US Coast Guard, News, Reports, Data, etc.

US Coast Guard Recaptilization, Deep Water Project

Updated this thread to cover all of the US Coast Guard new cutters and their recapitalization program, the Deep Water Program. This was because we do not need a new thread for each new cutter class. This will cover the National Security Cutters, The Offshore Patrol Cutters, the Fast Response Cutters, and the new aircraft as well for the US Coast Guard[.



The first National Security Cutter (NSC), USCGC Bertholf, was built at the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss. A ceremony was held on September 9, 2004 to mark the beginning of construction of the first NSC. The cutter was launched on September 29, 2006. The construction of the second NSC is underway.

Eight are planned to be built. They displace 4,300 tons, have a CODAG propulsion, are armed with a 57mm main gun, carry two helos, or up to four VUAVs, or a mix of one helo and two VUAVs, have a close in weapons system (I believe VLS cells), is outfitted with a small boat package, and have enhancied interoperability between Coast Guard and US Navy.

Re: US Coast Guard Luanches Nation Security Cutter

Nice ships..In many Navies in the world a ship like this would be the flag ship.

A few months ago i read that the USCG was replacing their entire fleet. I cannnot find the article any longer.

VLS cell? where ? On the bow? Can't imangine why they would need it. Maybe to augment the USN?

Re: US Coast Guard Luanches Nation Security Cutter

bd popeye said:

Nice ships..In many Navies in the world a ship like this would be the flag ship.

A few months ago i read that the USCG was replacing their entire fleet. I cannnot find the article any longer.

VLS cell? where ? On the bow? Can't imangine why they would need it. Maybe to augment the USN?

Click to expand...

Well they do not say...but it could also be (probably will be) a Phalanx on the afthanger deck housing or a RAM instead of VLS.

Here's a good link that talks about all of the new vessels...the Maritime Security Cutter-Large (this NSC vessel) with eight planned, the Off shore Patrol Cutter (OPC) with twenty-five planned, and the Fast Response Cutters (FRC) with fifty-eight planned.

The slab sloping sides are clearly to reduce RCS,,, so basically these are USN Frigates budgeted on the sly.

This image shows the CIWS as a RAM system over the rear hanger (looks like Phalanx but has the missiles in place of the 20mm).

The picture is slightly wrong in the extent of the slab sides.

Does anyone know what the white thing is behinf the main gun?

A better source:

Going by this and other images on that site, it looks like the CIWS will be Phalanx not RAM, although the specs just say "CIWS".

Re: US Coast Guard Luanches Nation Security Cutter

planeman said:

A better source:

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[qimg]http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5524/nschf1.jpg[/qimg]
Going by this and other images on that site, it looks like the CIWS will be Phalanx not RAM, although the specs just say "CIWS".

Click to expand...

It is still not clear to me whether it will be RAM or Phalanx. RAM is showing itself to be very, very effective. In addition, I still wonder what that rectangular area is just forward of the superstructure and aft of the bofors gun.

The pictures at the start of the thread (thumbnails) are actual pictures during the christeneing and show the slanted sides pretty well as they are.

Re: NSC Cutter

You can see the actual construction photos here:


Like the high endurance cutter (WHEC), this ship will have a CIWS system, but nothing like the Mk 41 VLS.

It's about time the US Coast Guard got some new ships. Good lord, their WHEC's were built in 1960's, and was sent to Vietnam and Persian Gulf. While the USN got shiny new ships, the Coast Guard had to wait almost 4 decades!

If the 8 National Security Cutters are built as replacements for the 12 WHEC's, then the fleet is actually downsizing.

Current Coast Guard Fleet:
12 x WHEC (high endurance cutter)
30 x WMEC (medium endurance cutter)

New Coast Guard ships:
8 x NSC (National Security Cutter)
25 x OPC (offshore patrol cutter)

============================

The Coast Guard is also planning to replace about 1,400 smaller boats with 700 Defender-class boats and 180 "Response Boat Medium".

Re: NSC Cutter

adeptitus said:

t's about time the US Coast Guard got some new ships. Good lord, their WHEC's were built in 1960's, and was sent to Vietnam and Persian Gulf. While the USN got shiny new ships, the Coast Guard had to wait almost 4 decades!

If the 8 National Security Cutters are built as replacements for the 12 WHEC's, then the fleet is actually downsizing.

Current Coast Guard Fleet:
12 x WHEC (high endurance cutter)
30 x WMEC (medium endurance cutter)

New Coast Guard ships:
8 x NSC (National Security Cutter)
25 x OPC (offshore patrol cutter)

============================

Click to expand...

The Coast Guard is touting the rotational crew scheme and the less maintenance required on these vessels as a method of maintaining the same operational availability of the fewer ships.

We shall see.

I believe the USCG should build 12 and 30 of these new vessels myself...but I do not have a vote. LOL!

Re: US Coast Guard Recaptilization, Deep Water Project

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Bloomberg Business Week said:

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) — General Dynamics Corp. has been awarded one of three initial contracts in a $12 billion U.S. Coast Guard ship program, with competitor Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. shut out.

Huntington, the government’s No. 1 shipbuilder, had bid on the design contracts for the offshore patrol cutters, which will replace older ships. The Coast Guard’s decision is “a significant setback for Huntington Ingalls,” said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, an Arlington, Virginia-based research organization.

“It is also a significant breakthrough for General Dynamics, which is likely to ultimately build the next Coast Guard ship,” Thompson said in a phone interview. General Dynamics is the No. 2 shipbuilder for the U.S. government, according to Bloomberg Industries.

Huntington Ingalls is “disappointed by the Coast Guard’s decision,” said Bill Glenn, a spokesman for the Newport News, Virginia-based contractor.

The company “offered the Coast Guard a strong, fully compliant proposal to provide a very capable, cost effective offshore patrol cutter design,” Glenn said in an e-mail. “Our proposal offered commonality in many systems and construction processes already proven in the National Security Cutter program.”

A spokeswoman for Falls Church, Virginia-based General Dynamics didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment on the Coast Guard’s announcement.

General Dynamics was selected along with Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC and Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., both closely held. Each will receive design contracts valued at between $21 million and $22 million for the offshore patrol cutters.

The new vessels will have increased range and endurance, larger flight decks and improved surveillance capabilities, according to the Coast Guard.

Click to expand...

This is big news. Twenty-five Frigate-sized vessels are at stake. A HUGE order.

Huntington Ingalls is the US Military's largest shipbuilder but there submittal was not selected. Huntington/Ingalls is building the US Navy San Antonio Class LPDs, the US Coast Guard Legend Class National security Cutters, the US Navy's America Class LHAs, one of two yards building Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS DDGs, and their Newport News subsidiary is building the US Navy's Ford Class aircraft carriers and is one of two yards building the Virginia Class SSNs.

Ingalls presented a design that would have been compatible in many systems, sensors, and procedures with the eight National Security Cutters that they are already building.

General Dynamics is the number two military shipbuilder and was selected as one of the three finalists. Genral Dynamics Electric Boat yards is one of two yards building the Virginia Class SSNs, it's Bath Iron Works is building the Zumwalt Class DDGs and is one of two yards building the Arleigh Burk class AEGIS DDGs, its NASSCO shipyards build the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) vessels for the US Navy, and through its affiliation with Austral, is building the Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships.

Eastern shipbuilding has yards in Florida and has built over 300 commercial vessels, and has also built 15 Hornbeck and Bravante Offshore Supply Vessels and is recognized as a very capable and efficient modern shipbuilder.

Bollinger is currently building all of the U.S. Coast Guard's fifty-eight "Fast Response Cutters."

The Offshore Patrol cutter, of which twenty-five will be built, at about 2,500-3,000 tons, will fit in between the larger National Security Cutter, or Legend Class, of which eight are being built (at 4,500 tons) and the Fast Response Cutter, or Sentinel Class, of which fifty-eight are being built (at about 500 tons).


The various concept designs by the three finalists include:

Bollinger Concept Design, partnering with Damen Shipyard


Eastern Shipbuilding Concept Design


General Dynamics/Bath Iron Works Concept Design

Re: US Coast Guard Recaptilization, Deep Water Project

Jeff Head said:

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​

This is big news. Twenty-five Frigate-sized vessels are at stake. A HUGE order.

Huntington Ingalls is the US Military's largest shipbuilder but there submittal was not selected. Huntington/Ingalls is building the US Navy San Antonio Class LPDs, the US Coast Guard Legend Class National security Cutters, the US Navy's America Class LHAs, one of two yards building Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS DDGs, and their Newport News subsidiary is building the US Navy's Ford Class aircraft carriers and is one of two yards building the Virginia Class SSNs.

Ingalls presented a design that would have been compatible in many systems, sensors, and procedures with the eight National Security Cutters that they are already building.

General Dynamics is the number two military shipbuilder and was selected as one of the three finalists. Genral Dynamics Electric Boat yards is one of two yards building the Virginia Class SSNs, it's Bath Iron Works is building the Zumwalt Class DDGs and is one of two yards building the Arleigh Burk class AEGIS DDGs, its three NASSCO shipyards build the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) vessels for the US Navy, and through its affiliation with Austral, is building the Indepoendence Class Littoral Combat Ships.

Eastern shipbuilding has yards in Florida and has built over 300 commercial vessels, but has alos built 15 Hornbeck and Bravante Offshore Supply Vessels and is recognized as a very capable and efficient modern shipbuilder.

Bollinger is building all of the U.S. Coast Guard's fifty-eight "Fast Response Cutters."

The Offshore Patrol cutter, of which twenty-five will be built, at about 2,500-3,000 tons, fits in between the larger National Secutiry Cutter, or Legend Class, of which eight are being built (at 4,500 tons) and the Fast Response Cutter, or Sentinel Class, of which fifty-eight are being built (at about 500 tons).

US Coast Guard National Security Cutter (Legend Class) Built by Huntington Ingalls.

US Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter (Sentinel Class) Built by Bollinger.
​

Click to expand...

Hey Jeff how are these OPC in comparison to the US Navy Corvette class ships? They look to be almost about the same size of course minus the weapons.

Re: US Coast Guard Recaptilization, Deep Water Project

Equation said:

Hey Jeff how are these OPC in comparison to the US Navy Corvette class ships? They look to be almost about the same size of course minus the weapons.

Click to expand...

Well, they will be a very good Coast Guard Cutter design. But no modular mission packages for heavier tasks like ASW, MCM, or attacking other ships of any similar size..

But they will have the 57mm main gun and some form of CIWS, they will also be able to launch and retrieve both the Short Range Prosecutor and the larger Long Range Interceptor RHIBs, they will also have a helo pad and hanger, and they will have a great sensor suite.

So, really, they are patrol cutters suitable for maritime security, anti-piracy, interdiction, inspections, rescues, and, in wartime, low intensity escort duties. Really a very similar mission to the larger National Security Cutters, except these are medium endurance and not nearly as long ranged as those larger vessels. There will also be a lot more of them, twenty-five of these as opposed to eight of the Legend Class National security Cutters.