USCGC Drummond (WPB-1323)

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Career (USCG)
USCGC DRUMMOND (WPB-1323)
Builder:	Bolinger Shipyard in Lockport, Louisiana
Laid down:	Unknown
Launched:	Unknown
Commissioned:	October 19, 1988
Status:	Active
Homeport:	Key West, Florida
General Characteristics
Displacement:	164 tons
Length:	110 ft
Beam:	21 ft
Draft:	6.5 ft
Propulsion:	Twin Paxman-Valeta 16-CM RP-200M
Speed:	30+ knots
Range:	9,900 miles
Endurance:	6 days
Boats and landing craft carried:	1 - RHI (90 HP outboard engine)
Complement:	18 personnel (2 officers, 16 enlisted)
Armament:	1 x 25 mm Machine Gun 2 x .50 caliber Machine Gun 10 x Sig Sauer P229 .40 caliber PDW 3 x M-16 Automatic Rife 2 x Remington Model 870 Shotgun
Motto:	Keep On, Keepin' On

The USCGC DRUMMOND receives her namesake from the Drummond Island, known as the “Gem of Lake Huron,” off the shores of Michigan. DRUMMOND was placed in commission on October 19, 1988 at Bolinger Shipyard in Lockport, Louisiana. DRUMMOND and the other 48 Island Class cutters’ construction are based on the internationally known Vosper-Thornycraft design. Her hull is a semi-displacement type monohull made of high strength steel, while the main deck and superstructure are aluminum. DRUMMOND employs an active fin stabilization system to improve her sea keeping abilities. With a top speed in excess of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots, the ship is capable of enduring unsupported operations for six days and accommodates two officers and sixteen enlisted personnel.

[edit] Island Class Patrol Boat Overview

The 110' Island-class Patrol Boats are a U.S. Coast Guard modification of a highly successful British-designed patrol boat. With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Island Class, all named after U.S. islands, replaced the older 95-foot Cape-class patrol boats. These cutters are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment and are used on the front lines of the Coast Guard's Maritime Homeland Security, Migrant Interdiction, Fisheries Enforcement, and Search-and-Rescue missions.

[edit] History

USCGC DRUMMOND anchored off Cay Sal Island, Bahamas

Since commissioning, DRUMMOND has proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard’s busiest district and has been decorated for her involvement in a variety of operations. In 1992 and 1994, DRUMMOND was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation while working with other U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy units that combined for the safe interdiction of over 20,502 Haitian migrants at sea.

Originally homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida, DRUMMOND’s home port was changed to Key West, Florida in the summer of 2002. Typical patrols in Key West, Florida’s area of operations involve search and rescue, alien migrant interdiction operations, fisheries law enforcement, counter narcotics operations, and homeland security.

[edit] Current

USCGC DRUMMOND's small boat returning with illegal Cuban migrnats from Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas

In April 2004, DRUMMOND again returned to Haiti in support of Operation ABLE SENTRY and Operation SECURE TOMMOROW as that country’s political and economical situation continued to generate an exodus of migrants. In 2005, DRUMMOND was again awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her efforts in stemming the illegal flow of Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits. DRUMMOND also was credited for saving more than $500,000 in property during this period in search-and-rescue cases, including a daring rescue of a dismasted sailboat in the during Tropical Storm Arlene.

Since 2004, DRUMMOND is credited with interdicting over 550 illegal Cuban migrants in the Florida Straits, on eight go-fast vessels and 26 homebuilt chug-chugs and rafts. DRUMMOND has also recovered nearly 120 illegal migrants from various Bahamian islands, working closely with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. In the past two years, DRUMMOND has cared for 1600 illegal migrants on her decks while conducting 32 politically sensitive repatriations to Cabanas, Cuba.

In late November of 2006, due to the unscheduled decommissioning of all 8 of the 123' patrol boats homeported in Key West, DRUMMOND remains the only Island Class patrol boat left homeported in Key West.