Medium endurance cutter
The Medium endurance cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard cutter mainly consisting of the 270-foot Famous- and 210-foot 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 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]
There are 13 vessels in the 'Famous' class, and 14 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 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 cutter USCGC Thetis (WMEC-910) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: |
Robert Derecktor Shipyard Inc., Middletown, Rhode Island Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington |
| Operators: | United States Coast Guard |
| Built: | 1979–1989 |
| In commission: | 1983–present |
| Completed: | 13 |
| Active: | 13 |
| General characteristics | |
| 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: | 2 × turbo-charged ALCO V-18 diesel engines 2 × 9-foot-diameter (2.7 m) controllable pitch propellers |
| 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) |
| Armament: | 1 × OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun 2 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns |
| Aviation facilities: | Helipad |
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]
Ships in class
| Hull Number | Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| WMEC-901 | Bear | Active |
| WMEC-902 | Tampa | Active |
| WMEC-903 | Harriet Lane | Active |
| WMEC-904 | Northland | Active |
| WMEC-905 | Spencer | Active |
| WMEC-906 | Seneca | Active |
| WMEC-907 | Escanaba | Active |
| WMEC-908 | Tahoma | Active |
| WMEC-909 | Campbell | Active |
| WMEC-910 | Thetis | Active |
| WMEC-911 | Forward | Active |
| WMEC-912 | Legare | Active |
| WMEC-913 | Mohawk | Active |
Reliance-class cutter
 Cutter USCGC Reliance (WMEC-615) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: |
American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio] U.S. Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland |
| Operators: |
United States Coast Guard Sri Lanka Navy Colombian Navy Coast Guard |
| Built: | 1962–1968 |
| In commission: | 1964–present |
| Completed: | 16 |
| Active: | 16 |
| General characteristics | |
| 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: | 1 × 25mm Mk 38 autocannon 2 × M2HB .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine guns |
| 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 165-foot (50 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
| Hull Number | Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| WMEC-615 | Reliance | Active |
| WMEC-616 | Diligence | Active |
| WMEC-617 | Vigilant | Active |
| WMEC-618 | Active | Active |
| WMEC-619 | Confidence | Active |
| WMEC-620 | Resolute | Active |
| WMEC-621 | Valiant | Active |
| WMEC-622 | Courageous | Decommissioned |
| WMEC-623 | Steadfast | Active |
| WMEC-624 | Dauntless | Active |
| WMEC-625 | Venturous | Active |
| WMEC-626 | Dependable | Active |
| WMEC-627 | Vigorous | Active |
| WMEC-628 | Durable | Decommissioned |
| WMEC-629 | Decisive | Active |
| WMEC-630 | Alert | Active |
Courageous was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as SLNS Samudura (P-621).
Durable 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).
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ "210' / 270' Medium Endurance Cutters". Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ "Coast Guard Assets and Equipment". United States Coast Guard Reserve. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ "Coast Guard Modernization". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "WPC's & WMEC's: 1945-2000". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
References
- Famous-class cutter
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Famous class cutters. |
- "A Day in the Life of the Mohawk". Retrieved 2012-12-11. – HDTV documentary shows the Famous-class cutter patrolling the south coastal region of the United States in February and March 1999.
- "Famous Cutter Class 270-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters: Cutters / 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) - Famous Cutter Class". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- Reliance-class cutter
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reliance class cutters. |
- "Reliance Class 210-Foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- "Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters: Cutters / 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) - Reliance Class". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
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