Marine Protector-class patrol boat
The Marine Protector class is a class of coastal patrol boats of the United States Coast Guard. The 87-foot-long 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 a marine predator.[3]
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 | |
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Name: | Marine Protector class |
Builders: | Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana |
Operators: |
|
In commission: | 1998-present[1] |
Active: | 73 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement: | 91 Long tons |
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 diesels |
Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)+ |
Range: | 900 nmi (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 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. These older boats had one small and one large berthing area, and they had to stop for five or more minutes to deploy or retrieve their pursuit inflatable boat via a small crane. The last Point-class cutter was decommissioned in 2003.[8][9]
In 2020 the Department of Homeland Security proposed a budget for the Coast Guard for 2021 where 8 Marine Protector cutters would be decommissioned, as their missions could be taken by new Sentinel class cutters.[10]
General characteristics
Missions include combating drug smuggling, illegal immigration, marine fisheries enforcement and search and rescue support. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks many have a homeland security mission in the form of ports waterways and coastal security (PWCS) patrols.[11]
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 since the initial inception of this class of cutter, in an effort to increase speed and sea state sustainability for boarding parties and rescue and assistance teams. The stern launching system requires just a single crewmember to remain on deck to launch or retrieve the boarding party.
Their high-speed pursuit boat uses the same diesel fuel as the cutters.[3]
The cutters 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 are 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 assigned to guard a United States Navy submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, and Sea Devil and Sea Fox guard another submarine base in Bangor, Washington, mount an additional machine gun, one operated by remote control.[3]
Boats in class
Image | Name | Hull Number | Builder | Commissioned | Homeport | Status Active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USCGC Barracuda | WPB-87301 | Bollinger Shipyards | 1998 | Eureka, CA | Active | |
USCGC Hammerhead | WPB-87302 | Woods Hole, MA | ||||
USCGC Mako | WPB-87303 | Cape May, NJ | ||||
USCGC Marlin | WPB-87304 | Fort Myers Beach, FL | ||||
USCGC Stingray | WPB-87305 | Mobile, AL | ||||
USCGC Dorado | WPB-87306 | Crescent City, CA | ||||
USCGC Osprey | WPB-87307 | Port Townsend, WA | ||||
USCGC Chinook | WPB-87308 | New London, CT | ||||
USCGC Albacore | WPB-87309 | New London, CT | ||||
USCGC Tarpon | WPB-87310 | Tybee Island, GA | ||||
USCGC Cobia | WPB-87311 | Mobile, AL | ||||
USCGC Hawksbill | WPB-87312 | Monterey, CA | ||||
USCGC Cormorant | WPB-87313 | Fort Pierce, FL | ||||
USCGC Finback | WPB-87314 | Cape May, NJ | ||||
USCGC Amberjack | WPB-87315 | South Padre Island, TX | ||||
USCGC Kittiwake | WPB-87316 | Honolulu, HI | ||||
USCGC Blackfin | WPB-87317 | Santa Barbara, CA | ||||
USCGC Bluefin | WPB-87318 | Fort Pierce, FL | ||||
USCGC Yellowfin | WPB-87319 | Charleston, SC | ||||
USCGC Manta | WPB-87320 | Freeport, TX | ||||
USCGC Coho | WPB-87321 | Panama City, FL | ||||
USCGC Kingfisher | WPB-87322 | Mayport, FL | ||||
USCGC Seahawk | WPB-87323 | Carrabelle, FL | ||||
USCGC Steelhead | WPB-87324 | Port Aransas, TX | ||||
USCGC Beluga | WPB-87325 | Little Creek, VA | ||||
USCGC Blacktip | WPB-87326 | Oxnard, CA | ||||
USCGC Pelican | WPB-87327 | Abbeville, LA | ||||
USCGC Ridley | WPB-87328 | Montauk, NY | ||||
USCGC Cochito | WPB-87329 | Little Creek, VA | ||||
USCGC Manowar | WPB-87330 | Galveston, TX | ||||
USCGC Moray | WPB-87331 | Jonesport, ME | ||||
USCGC Razorbill | WPB-87332 | Gulfport, MS | ||||
USCGC Adelie | WPB-87333 | Port Angeles, WA | ||||
USCGC Gannet | WPB-87334 | Dania, FL | ||||
USCGC Narwhal | WPB-87335 | Corona Del Mar, CA | ||||
USCGC Sturgeon | WPB-87336 | Grand Isle, LA | ||||
USCGC Sockeye | WPB-87337 | Bodega Bay, CA | ||||
USCGC Ibis | WPB-87338 | Cape May, NJ | ||||
USCGC Pompano | WPB-87339 | Gulfport, MS | ||||
USCGC Halibut | WPB-87340 | Marina Del Rey, CA | ||||
USCGC Bonito | WPB-87341 | Pensacola, FL | ||||
USCGC Shrike | WPB-87342 | Port Canaveral, FL | ||||
USCGC Tern | WPB-87343 | San Francisco, CA | ||||
USCGC Heron | WPB-87344 | Sabine Pass, TX | ||||
USCGC Wahoo | WPB-87345 | Port Angeles, WA | ||||
USCGC Flyingfish | WPB-87346 | Boston, MA | ||||
USCGC Haddock | WPB-87347 | San Diego, CA | ||||
USCGC Brant | WPB-87348 | Corpus Christi, TX | ||||
USCGC Shearwater | WPB-87349 | Portsmouth, VA | ||||
USCGC Petrel | WPB-87350 | San Diego, CA | ||||
87351[12] | Malta | |||||
USCGC Sea Lion | WPB-87352 | Bellingham, WA | ||||
USCGC Skipjack | WPB-87353 | Galveston, TX | ||||
USCGC Dolphin | WPB-87354 | Miami, FL | ||||
USCGC Hawk | WPB-87355 | St. Petersburg, FL | ||||
USCGC Sailfish | WPB-87356 | Sandy Hook, NJ | ||||
USCGC Sawfish | WPB-87357 | Key West, FL | ||||
USCGC Swordfish | WPB-87358 | Port Angeles, WA | ||||
USCGC Tiger Shark | WPB-87359 | Newport, RI | ||||
USCGC Blue Shark | WPB-87360 | Everett, WA | ||||
USCGC Sea Horse | WPB-87361 | Portsmouth, VA | ||||
USCGC Sea Otter | WPB-87362 | San Diego, CA | ||||
USCGC Manatee | WPB-87363 | Corpus Christi, TX | ||||
USCGC Ahi | WPB-87364 | Honolulu, HI | ||||
USCGC Pike | WPB-87365 | San Francisco, CA | ||||
USCGC Terrapin | WPB-87366 | Bellingham, WA | ||||
USCGC Sea Dragon | WPB-87367 | Kings Bay, GA | In Active Service | |||
USCGC Sea Devil | WPB-87368 | Bangor, WA | ||||
USCGC Crocodile | WPB-87369 | St Petersburg, FL | ||||
USCGC Diamondback | WPB-87370 | Miami Beach, FL | ||||
USCGC Reef Shark | WPB-87371 | San Juan, PR | ||||
USCGC Alligator | WPB-87372 | St. Petersburg, FL | ||||
USCGC Sea Dog | WPB-87373 | Kings Bay, GA | ||||
USCGC Sea Fox | WPB-87374 | Bangor, WA | In Active Service |
References
- "WPB 87' Marine Protector Class". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
- "Coastal Patrol Boat" (PDF). USCG Acquisition Directorate. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
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HMC James T. Flynn, Jr., USNR(ret) (2014-06-23). "U. S. Coast Guard: Small Cutters and Patrol Boats 1915 - 2012" (PDF). US Coast Guard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-11-19.
The four boats which are stationed at Kitsap, WA and Kings Bay, GA submarine bases have an extra remotely operated 50 cal. m.g.
CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Patrol Boat". Marine Talk. 1999-10-18. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26.
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Keyon K. Jeff (2009-10-11). "Bollinger Shipyards delivers final Marine Protector-class CPB". Tri-Parish Times. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11.
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.
- "USCG Contract for Bollinger". Marine News. July 2007. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
The Bollinger built CPBs are based on the Damen STAN 2600 design developed for the Hong Kong police.
- "International Acquisition Programs". United States Coast Guard. 2009-12-15.
- "87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB) - Marine Protector Class". Marine Protector Class datasheet. US Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
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""Last of the Class": USCGC PT BROWER (WPB 82372)". Transquest. 2003-03-28. Archived from the original on 2003-04-17. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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.
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"Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Budget Overview, Fiscal Year 2021, Congressional Justification" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. 2020. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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.
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"Office of Counterterrorism & Defense Operations Policy (CG-ODO)". US Coast Guard. 2016-12-28. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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.
- The number 87351 was assigned to a vessel that was given to Malta, where it became P51
External links
- Globalsecurity.org - WPB 87' Marine Protector Class
- U.S. Coast Guard: 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB) - Marine Protector Class