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

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)
Sensors and 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

Reliance-class cutter

Reliance class

Cutter USCGC Reliance
Class overview
Builders	Todd Shipyards, Houston, Texas American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio U.S. Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Maryland Christy Corporation, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Operators	United States Coast Guard Sri Lanka Navy Colombian Navy Coast Guard
Built	1962–1968
In commission	1964–present
Completed	16
Active	12
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 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

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).

Decisive was decommissioned on 2 March 2023. ^[7]

Steadfast was decommissioned on 1 February 2024. ^[8]

Dependable 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. ^[9]

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Famous class cutters and Reliance 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 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.