The class leader
USCGC Barracuda underway. Note the boat launching ramp at the stern. The fifty caliber machine guns mount on pintles, port and starboard, just forward of the red stripe. The black smudge in the hull abaft the superstructure is the exhaust of the port engine.
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Marine Protector-class |
Builders | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana |
Operators | |
Preceded by | Point-class |
In commission | 1998–present [1] |
Completed | 73 |
Cancelled | 0 |
Active | 67 |
Retired | 6 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 91 long tons (204,000 lb; 92,000 kg) |
Length | 87 ft (27 m) |
Beam | 19 ft 5 in (5.92 m) |
Draft | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Propulsion | 2 x MTU diesel engines |
Speed | Over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
Range | 900 nmi (1,000 mi; 1,700 km) |
Endurance | 3 days |
Complement | 10 |
Sensors and processing systems | 1 x AN/SPS-73 surface search radar |
Armament | 2 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns |
Notes | [2] |
The Marine Protector-class patrol boat is a type of coastal patrol boat of the United States Coast Guard. The 87-foot-long (27 m) vessels are based on the Stan 2600 design by Damen Group and were built by Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana. Each boat is named after sea creatures that fly or swim. [3]
The Coast Guard placed its original order in 1999 for 50 boats, which were delivered by mid-2002. [4] Several additional orders brought the class to a total of 74 ships, with the last, USCGC Sea Fox, being completed in October 2009. [3] [5] [6] Four additional vessels were built for Foreign Military Sales, with two each going to Malta and Yemen. [7]
The Marine Protector class replaced the 82-foot Point class, which had smaller accommodations and had to stop to deploy its pursuit inflatable boat via crane. The last Point-class cutter was decommissioned in 2003. [8] [9]
In 2020, the Department of Homeland Security began to decommission the fleet, with 8 Marine Protector cutters replaced by newer Sentinel class cutters. [10]
In May 2021, the United States announced that it would send three ships to the Lebanese Navy [11]
In 2022, three ships, Albacore, Cochito, and Gannet were donated to the Uruguayan Navy under the Excess Defense Articles program. As part of the transfer deal, Uruguay spent $4.99 million to refurbish the ships, on spare parts, and to train their crews. They were renamed Rio Arapey, Rio De La Plata, and Rio Yaguaron. [12] [13]
In 2023, the United States delivered two Marine Protector class ships to the Ghanaian Navy. They were commissioned as GNS Aflao, and GNS Half Assini. [14]
In May 2023, the United States government pledged to provide the Philippines at least two Marine Protector vessels, as well as two Island-class patrol boat and three Lockheed C-130H Hercules during President Bongbong Marcos' visit to Washington, D.C. [15] [16] The transferred vessels will be operated by the Philippine Navy. [17] [18]
Missions include combating drug smuggling, illegal immigration, marine fisheries enforcement and search and rescue support. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, many have had a homeland security mission in the form of ports, waterways and coastal security (PWCS) patrols. [19]
Boarding parties can be launched while the vessel is underway through the cutter's stern launching ramp. [3] The attached rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) has been upgraded in an effort to increase speed and sea state sustainability for boarding parties and rescue and assistance teams. The stern launching system requires only a single crew member to remain on deck to launch or retrieve the boarding party.
The vessels consume approximately 165 gallons of diesel per hour at their maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph).
Like all new U.S. Coast Guard vessels, the Marine Protector class is designed to accommodate crews of mixed gender with five separate small berthing spaces accommodating standard crews of ten with maximum berthing for 12. [3]
Sea Dragon and Sea Dog are assigned to guard a United States Navy submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, while Sea Devil and Sea Fox guard another submarine base in Bangor, Washington. All mount an additional machine gun operated by remote control. [3]
The four boats which are stationed at Kitsap, WA and Kings Bay, GA submarine bases have an extra remotely operated 50 cal. m.g.
We're very sad to see the Sea Fox leave. This contract was supposed to end at 51 vessels, and now we're at 75," said Christopher Bollinger, executive vice president of new construction. "We're excited to see the workmanship continue as we start the next contract for 36 boats.
The Bollinger built CPBs are based on the Damen STAN 2600 design developed for the Hong Kong police.
On March 28th, 2003, the United States Coast Guard will transfer Coast Guard Cutter Point Brower (WPB 82372) to the country of Azerbaijan thus bringing an incredible era of "Point Class" vessels to an end.
This initiative decommissions eight 87-foot Marine Protector Class CPBs. This initiative is based on the acquisition of the Fast Response Cutter (FRC) and Response Boat – Medium (RB-M), both of which are more capable than the legacy assets that they replace.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 divided the Coast Guard's eleven statutory missions between homeland security and non-homeland security. Reflecting the Coast Guard's historical role in defending our nation, the Act delineated Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security (PWCS) as the first homeland security mission.