Medium endurance cutter explained

The Medium Endurance Cutter or WMEC is a type of United States Coast Guard Cutter mainly consisting of the 270feet Famous- and 210feet 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 and can do 6 to 8 week patrols.[2] Other ships in the WMEC classification are the 282feet, and the now-decommissioned 213feet, and 230feet,[3] and 205feet which began as the United States Navy 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

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 327feet s, and their mission profile emphasized law enforcement, particularly patrolling the newly established 200miles exclusive economic zone.

The Coast Guard harvested weapons systems components from decommissioned s 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

Famous class
Hull numberNameStatus
WMEC-901Active
WMEC-902Active
WMEC-903Active
WMEC-904Active
WMEC-905Active
WMEC-906Active
WMEC-907Active
WMEC-908Active
WMEC-909Active
WMEC-910Active
WMEC-911Active
WMEC-912Active
WMEC-913Active

Reliance-class cutter

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 125feet cutters of the Prohibition era and were the first major cutter replacement project since the 255feet s from World War II.

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.

Ships in class

Reliance class
Hull numberNameStatus
WMEC-615Active
WMEC-616Active
WMEC-617Active
WMEC-618Active
WMEC-619In commission, special status
WMEC-620Active
WMEC-621Active
WMEC-622Decommissioned
WMEC-623Decommissioned
WMEC-624In commission, special status
WMEC-625Active
WMEC-626In commission, special status
WMEC-627Active
WMEC-628Decommissioned
WMEC-629Decommissioned
WMEC-630Active

Courageous was decommissioned on 19 September 2001. She was transferred to the government of Sri Lanka on 24 June 2004 as (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]

Dauntless was removed from active service and placed in commission, special status on 21 June 2024. As of that date she had served 56 years. She and Steadfast are the only two Coast Guard cutters to have seized one million pounds of marijuana.[10]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aircraft, Boats, and Cutters. United States Coast Guard. 2012-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121125110207/http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/#cutters. 2012-11-25. live.
  2. Web site: 210' / 270' Medium Endurance Cutters. 2012-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20141030195449/http://www.uscg.org/Forum/aft/8255.aspx. 2014-10-30. live.
  3. Web site: Coast Guard Assets and Equipment . . 2012-12-11 . dead . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100707051723/http://www.gocoastguard.com/download-stuff/coast-guard-assets-and-equipment . 2010-07-07.
  4. Web site: Coast Guard Modernization. United States Coast Guard. 2012-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121016190029/http://www.uscg.mil/modernization/. 2012-10-16. live.
  5. Web site: WPC's & WMEC's: 1945-2000. United States Coast Guard. 2012-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017160936/http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/WMEC_Photo_Index.asp. 2012-10-17. live.
  6. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2082 U.S. Navy harvests decommissioned Frigates weapon systems for U.S. Coast Guard use
  7. . USCGC Decisive decommissioned after 55 years of service . Washington DC . Defense Media Activity . United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security . 2 March 2023 . 2023-10-01.
  8. . U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast decommissioned after 56 years of service . Washington, D.C. . Defense Media Activity . U.S. Department of Defense . 2024-02-01 . 2024-02-06.
  9. . US Coast Guard Cutter Dependable celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony . Virginia Beach, Virginia, US . Defense Visual Information Distribution Service . United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area . 2024-04-10 . 2024-04-11.
  10. . US Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless celebrated for 56 years’ service during heritage recognition ceremony . Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida . United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security . June 21, 2024 . June 22, 2024.